LPG tankers’ strike called off in Bangalore

The association of LPG tanker owners called off its strike on Thursday as it goes to the negotiation table with oil companies to discuss its demands.

South Zone Motor Transporters’ Welfare Association (SZMTWA) had called the strike on February 29. SP Vij, president of Karnataka region of the association, said the strike was called off so that the people are not put to inconvenience.

However, another strike by the tanker owners is possible if the talks between them and the oil companies fail. The tanker owners had gone on strike demanding an increase in the rate of transportation and induction of another 600 tankers. The oil companies refused to take services of extra tankers, saying that they were not needed. Also, the rate of transportation that the SZMTWA wanted was 78% higher than the current rate, IOCL said in a statement.

Nevertheless, the oil companies and the tanker owners’ association have agreed to negotiate for a month and arrive at a suitable rate of transportation, an IOCL official said.

Although the tankers will resume supplying LPG on Friday, an official said it would take a month for the situation to normalise.

The official said the distributors have to clear backlog of more than a month, created owing to two strikes that went on for more than a week. The official said that the strikes might lead to panic booking, but it will cease once people are assured of stability in supply.
Meanwhile, the tanker owners and oil companies have decided to work extra to clear the backlog and provide LPG to the consumers, some of whom have been waiting for more than a month.