The growth rate in diesel sales showed a negative growth rate in the State while it was nearly 7.54 per cent in the rest of the country.
The sales were badly affected in border areas like Tada because of the higher value added tax (VAT) in the State. High volume consumers, especially lorry owners, were filling diesel in the neighbouring States because of the lower rate there.
Answering a query at a press conference here on Wednesday, HPCL general manager G.S.V. Prasad said that the sales showed a little progress in February and March but they again fell into negative growth rate when compared to the rest of the country in April.
Mr. Prasad, who inaugurated the newly-established regional office of the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), said that its jurisdiction extended over the three districts of Nellore, Chittoor and Prakasam.
There were 220 HPCL dealers in the three districts put together and the present office was opened to ensure ease of the operations.
