BackAmid STF action on UP petrol pumps, owners go on strike
With UP police cracking down on petrol pumps using electronic chips to dispense low quantity of petrol, diesel to consumers, owners went on a strike to protest against action
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Lucknow: With the Uttar Pradesh special task force cracking down on errant petrol pumps across the state, their owners went on a strike to protest against the action.
Several petrol pumps in Uttar Pradesh had been caught using electronic chips and remote controls to dispense a lower quantity of petrol and diesel to consumers.
A number of petrol pumps, including one owned by UP Petrol Pump Dealers’ Association president B.N. Shukla, had been sealed in the state capital after they were caught cheating.
“The petrol pumps in the state capital went on strike last night. Due to fear of STF action, the staff has run away and they had no option but to go on strike", an official of the petrol pump association said. While the strike is creating inconvenience for people, who were seen lining up outside the pumps which are open, the state government is expecting the deadlock will end soon.
“The Yogi Adityanath government will not come under any pressure. The police action is justified and it was in favour of consumers. The Association members are likely to meet the CM and we expect the deadlock will end soon", cabinet minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said.
The state STF had initiated the crackdown on 27 April night when it raided seven petrol pumps using electronic chips operating through remote control. The device, according to task force officials, helped them get profits worth around Rs14 lakhs on an average per month.
The chip, costing around Rs3,000, reduced the output by nearly 5 to 10%. It is attached with a wire linked to a remote control. The remote control sets the limit and if a customer takes 1 litre petrol from any station, he would end up getting 940ml or less.
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