The idea is to aggravate the drug shortage, already a crippling 40 per cent, and therefore force the government's hand into lifting the octroi duty.

The Retail and Dispensing Chemists Association says it will not approach the state government for redressal but will wait for the state Urban Development Department to initiate the requisite procedures directing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to revoke the octroi duty.

The association's President Kishore Shah met Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde on Wednesday, who expressedhis helplessness to intervene as Chief Minister Manohar Joshi has been liaising with the chemists since August. However, chemists feel the chief minister has shown no urgency and have therefore decided to relaunch their agitation. ``We will now wait for the government to take the initiative,'' Shah told Express Newsline.

The move will aggravate the current 40 per cent shortage of drugs, with stocks of some brands having been completely depleted already. Pharmacies and dispensaries in civic and other hospitals have reported shortages of drugs for tuberculosis, diabetes, injections for infections and vaccines as well as live-saving drugs like those for treatment of cardiac arrest. Several chemists say some brands of IV-fluids and antihistamines are also not available.

The situation, however, has not turned critical yet with stocks of alternative brands still available.

Medical stores have erected boards outside their establishments listing drugs that are not available. At the BYL Nair Hospital atMumbai Central, 40 per cent of their patients are being turned away from the dispensary, according to a hospital employee.

A representative of the Mumbai Municipal Pharmacists' Association said some life-saving drugs and injections are not available at the dispensaries of most of Mumbai's civic hospitals.

Anil Popat, director of Bombay Medico, says: ``Stocks of most drugs are almost exhausted. With no more medicines coming in the situation is going to be tight.''

Prakash Parulekar, director, National Chemists, echoes the view, saying existing stocks will last for only a week if the agitation continues. Apprehensive of a crisis, people are resorting to mass-buying, he says.