Tuesday, September 19 2006 15:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Petrol station dealers in Maharashtra today (Sept 19, 2006) called off their indefinite strike after the Petroleum Ministry assured them of considering their demands, including lower sales tax on auto fuel.

Representatives from the Mumbai chapter of Maharashtra Petroleum Dealers Association, who called on Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora here, were assured by him that their demands would be considered.

The Dealers went on strike Sunday midnight demanding a reduction in the 33 per cent sales tax imposed on diesel in the state, saying the high tax led to flight of business to neighbouring states of Goa, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat were the rate was much less.

About 2,200 filing stations were shut down across Maharashtra after the strike commenced. However, about 40 pumps in Mumbai and 700 around the state were supplying fuel.

The meeting with the petroleum dealers was also attended by Civil Aviation Minister Prafful Patel and Petroleum secretary M S Srinivasan.