Petrol and diesel will not be available in Rajasthan from June 1st? This major warning from pump dealers has caused a stir New crisis amid petrol and diesel inflation; Warning to close petrol pumps in Rajasthan from June 1, know what is the pain of dealers

The coming days may be a bit difficult for the general public. On one hand, while the government oil companies have increased the prices of petrol and diesel four times in the month of May itself, the common man has been defrauded, while now the petrol pump dealers have also opened a front against the government. Fuel pump dealers of Rajasthan have given an ultimatum to go on strike from June 1 due to supply problems, pressure from government departments and financial constraints. Dealers say that if their legitimate demands are not immediately considered, they will be forced to close the pumps completely.

Letter written to the Chief Minister; Oil companies accused of not cooperating

Rajasthan Petroleum Dealers Association has sent a letter to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and senior administrative officials regarding this serious situation. The association says that petrol and diesel are not being supplied smoothly in the state by the government oil companies.

The biggest problem is that despite clear instructions from the state government, oil companies are not ready to provide fuel to dealers on credit. Due to this, small and medium scale petrol pump owners are facing a huge crisis of working capital (cash amount) to run their daily business.

Oil shortage in peak season; There will be a direct impact on farmers

At present, the Kharif crop season is coming in the rural and agricultural areas of the country. During this period, the demand for diesel to run tractors and other agricultural equipment in the fields suddenly increases rapidly.

Dealers’ concerns:

In such peak season, oil companies are not only reducing the supply but are also imposing various restrictions on the dealers regarding the sale of oil. Due to frequent depletion of stocks, petrol pumps are running dry in many areas, due to which farmers may have to face severe shortage in the coming days.

Allegations of harassment and heavy fines in the name of investigation

Dealers’ problems are not limited to supply alone. They allege that on one hand the oil companies are not giving them the full quantity, while on the other hand the metrology department of the state is putting unnecessary pressure on them.

Department officials are targeting dealers in the name of calibration and density checking at petrol pumps. Heavy fines of lakhs of rupees are being imposed even on minor technical deficiencies in the machines. Dealers say that machinery breakdowns are often caused by oil companies or equipment manufacturing companies, but petrol pump owners have to suffer.

Money from government schemes stuck, oil is costlier than neighboring states

The association has also raised two main points outlining its other major problems:

• Due Payment: The dealers had supplied fuel in large quantities to government vehicles under various social welfare schemes of the government. Payment worth crores of rupees for this supply has been stuck for a long time, due to which their entire business rotation has been spoiled.

• Demand to reduce VAT: The association has demanded that the state government should reduce the VAT on petrol and diesel by at least 5 percent. At present, oil prices in Rajasthan are much higher than neighboring states like Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. Due to this, people of border areas get oil filled from other states, due to which local dealers are suffering huge losses. Along with this, a demand has also been made to curb the illegal biofuel business and adulteration going on in the state.