Transporters to observe ‘black day’ as fuel prices rise

PUNE: Transporters across the country and in Maharashtra will be observing a ‘black-day’ on Monday and will be giving a one month notice to the government to roll back the price of fuel or be ready for an indefinite ‘chakka jam’ from August.
With petrol and diesel prices on a frequent rise for over a month now, transporters said that they would wear black armbands and would hold protests in front of the different RTO offices and collectorates across the state on Monday.
“This is a token protest and transportation would not be stopped. However, as we come under the ambit of essential services, we cannot go on a strike suddenly and a month’s notice needs to be given. On Monday, the notice will be served to the local administration authorities demanding that the prices of fuel be reduced within a month or else from August, there would be an indefinite chakka jam, which means all transport vehicles would be stopped from plying across the country. We will be forced to take the step from August 1 if prices don’t come down,” Baba Shinde, the president of the Maharashtra State Vahan Chalak Malak Pratinidhi Sanghatna and the director of All India Motor Transport Congress in Maharashtra told TOI.
In Pune, the prices of petrol and diesel saw a consecutive rise on Sunday with a litre of petrol costing Rs104.2 and a litre of diesel costing Rs94.59. “Going by the increase, we expect the price of one litre of diesel to touch Rs100 within a month. Similarly, the cost of a litre of petrol is also expected to touch Rs110 by July-end if the frequency of increase in its rate doesn’t stop,” a representative of a petrol station in the city told TOI.
Ali Daruwala, the national spokesperson of the All India Petrol Dealers Association, had earlier said that diesel touching the Rs100-mark was inevitable. However, on Sunday, Daruwalla, giving an update, said, “In a recent selected meeting held between some ministers and the Prime Minister, it has been decided to slash taxes on fuel and provide relief.”
Petrol prices crossed the Rs100-mark in Pune in the last week of May. For around two months now, the prices of both petrol and diesel were the highest ever in Pune and also in different parts of the state.
“With certain relaxations such as restaurants allowing dine-ins, the transporters have also started to get more jobs now, compared to the previous scenario. Hence, they are in a position now to increase the transportation costs, which ultimately results in the prices of all types of commodities going up. However, we cannot keep on increasing the transportation costs as ultimately, it will hit the transporters in the longer run, as business is not the same as before. Reduction of value added tax in fuel is of utmost importance for lowering the prices. A chakka jam means that essentials will not get transported and it will cause more issues to both the transporters as well as the wholesalers, retailers, shops, restaurant and consumers,” Shinde said.