Over 3,600 LPG tankers supplying domestic gas to Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry will go on an indefinite strike from Wednesday night. Another strike announced by tanker owners earlier was called off after the government promised to accept their demand to increase freight charges to Rs3.50 per tonne per km from `2.4 per tonne per km.
Vijay Kumar, president of the Bangalore region of South Zone Motor Transporters’ Welfare Association (SZMTWA), said: “On October 30, 2010, tenders were called and freight charges were negotiated and fixed at `3 per tonne per km compared with `2.4 per tonne per km, which was decided two years ago. Though oil companies had promised to implement the new rates from January 1, nothing materialised. When we stopped providing tankers on January 12, they asked for some time and promised to implement the new rates from February 15. It is only after repeated discussions with oil companies that we have decided to call this strike.”
“We understand that the people will be affected due to the strike. But this is a matter of our survival and there is no other option left with us, considering that despite agreeing to implement the new rates, nothing has been done,” said SP Vij, vice president of the Karnataka unit of SZMTWA. Apart from the general public, auto drivers will also be affected by the strike, according to HS Somashekar, who owns a petrol bunk.
“Petrol bunks don’t stock LPG for more than a day or two. The stock could end very soon,” he said. “The system is geared up to handle the strike for about a week. We can only hope and pray that the strike ends in this time. In the meantime, we request people not to panic and to be patient,” said MM Harish, president, Karnataka Bharath Gas District Association.
Sources at IOC said Bangalore will not be affected as LPG is transported to the city through rail. However, Harish said only IOC transports LPG through rail while HP and BP use tankers to transport LPG to the city.
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