Petroleum Minister Murli Deora appealed on to petrol pump operators on Wednesday to call off their proposed two-day strike from April 13 saying their main demand of raising commission on sale of petrol and diesel will be considered.
"We are considering their demands and a decision is likely to be taken in early May," Deora told reporters after meeting a delegation of Federation of All India Petroleum Dealers Association in New Delhi.
The pump operators are seeking a 5 per cent commission on petrol and diesel sales. Currently, dealers get Rs 0.89 on sale of every litre of petrol and Rs 0.52 on sale of every litre of diesel.
Petrol dealers to go on strike on Apr 13
FAIPT, claiming support of about 32,000 petrol pumps in the country, has threatened to go on a two day strike from April 2.
"The strike is not an answer. When we had recently raised dealers commission and are again promising to look into their demands, there is no reason whey the dealers should go on any strike," Deora said.
At current price of Rs 42.85 a litre of petrol, the five per cent commission works out to Rs 2.14. Similarly, on the current price of Rs 30.25 a litre of diesel, the commission works out to Rs 1.51 per litre.
"We may take a decision on their demand next month," Deora said.
