and Industry, Coimbatore
Press Release
January 5, 2009: Chamber Appeal to End Lorry Strike
The Government has to see reason in the argument of truckers that the petrol and diesel prices have to be brought down immediately. There is no point in putting forth arguments for postponing the reduction in diesel and petrol prices.
Even if the international prices of crude oil is assumed at USD 45 per barrel, the present price of petrol should be only Rs.23/- and that of diesel should be Rs.21/- compare to the present price of Rs.49.69 for petrol and Rs.35.30 for diesel going by the prices that were prevailing few years back.
Apart from this the central and state Governments should bring down the duties and sales tax. There is no justification in paying Rs.9 per litre for petrol and Rs.6 per litre for diesel as sales tax and Rs.6.50 for petrol and Rs.10 for diesel as Excise duty.
If the petrol price is brought to Rs.23/- the sales tax will come down to around Rs.5/- for petrol and Rs.9 for diesel and similarly for diesel sales tax will comes to Rs.4.85 and Rs.6 for petrol.
Due to the recession, the movement of goods has certainly come down which has affected the working of the goods transport sector and has put the transport sector in serious crisis.
The industry which is facing deep recession will further get affected if truckers strike continue and hence Chamber appeals to the Government to see reason and accept the main demand of truckers and reduce the prices of petrol and diesel at the earliest and bring the strike to an end.
We also appeal to the truckers to end the strike, considering the fact that the common public will be hit, if the strike continues, due to galloping prices of essential commodities.
Mahendra Ramdas
President