Oil companies, tanker owners talks fail

The talks between the South Zone Motor Transporter’s Welfare Association (SZMTWA) and the oil companies supplying LPG to the city have failed.

Two days after the strike began on the midnight of February 29, representatives of the oil companies and the association members met in Chennai, after the intervention of Tamil Nadu government.

Although talks began early on Saturday morning and went on till 10 pm, both sides were unable to come to a decision.

According to GR Shanmugappa, talks failed as the oil companies were unwilling to operate on the costs being demanded by the SZMTWA members.

The two points of contention between the SZMTWA and the oil companies was the rates and the number of tankers. The SZMTWA had demanded that 3,600 tankers be used at Rs 3 per tonne per kilometre.

“Let them use as many tankers as they want, but there is no way we can survive at the rates that are being offered. We will continue to demand an increase from Rs 2.5 that was being given to us.”
According to Captain MM Harish, president of the Karnataka Bharath Gas Dealer’s Association, “The SZMTWA has blinked now. It is only a matter of time before it agrees as the members cannot survive if they continue the strike.”

Nevertheless, that if the strike does continue, there are alternate means that can be used to provide LPG to the city, he added. “We can directly fill cylinders at Mangalore and transport them to the city,” he said.

Although the SZMTWA members have said that they will continue the strike even if it inconveniences the people as this is a matter of their ‘survival’, the likelihood of another meeting on Monday has kindled hope for a solution next week, at least.