Deceased bizman had been fighting fuel rates disparity

MOHALI:THE 76-year-old Mohalibased petrol pump owner, who died by suicide on July 22, had also written a letter to the Punjab governor in September 2019, seeking his permission to end his life.

He had cited huge losses to Mohali filling stations due to the substantial difference in fuel rates in Chandigarh as the reason.

In his letter, Chawla, who owned two petrol pumps in Mohali and Fatehgarh Sahib, had stated that due to non-revision of VAT by Chandigarh administration, he was robbed of 80% business, as his pumps were situated quite close to Chandigarh.

Ashwinder Singh Mongia, president, Mohali District Petroleum Dealers Association, said the deceased suffered huge losses due to VAT rates.

He had been fighting for uniformity of fuel rates, but finally gave up. “Dealers in Punjab, whose pumps are located on the Chandigarh border, are the worst affected. When they can bring parity in liquor prices why not in fuel rates?” Mongia questioned.