Chandigarh, Oct. 15 -- The Petrol Pump Dealers' Associations on Wednesday sought a meeting with the Ethics Committee of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs). The associations are demanding a full exemption from merchant discount rate (MDR) charges on UPI payments, revision of dealer margins to 7% of the billed value, and the equalisation of VAT rates on petroleum products with Chandigarh to prevent fuel smuggling. Addressing a joint press conference, Representatives of the Rashtriya Jan Udyog Vayapar Sangathan (RJUVS), Federation of All India Petroleum Traders (FAIPT), Petroleum Pump Dealers Association Punjab (PPDAP) and Petroleum Dealers Welfare Association Haryana (PDWAH), said the retail fuel sector was facing severe financial stress due to low margins, declining sales volumes, rising operational costs and inter-state fuel smuggling. FAIPT national spokesperson Monty Sehgal said the proposed MDR charges on UPI transactions were a major concern for dealers operating on fixed margins."Calling it a discount is a complete misnomer. There is no discount involved in this charge; it is a digital recovery levy," he said. The associations demanded a 100% exemption from MDR charges on UPI payments made at petroleum retail outlets. htc...