Tanker strike may spark fuel crisis in Kerala

KOCHI: The lorry and tanker strike in Kerala has severely affected movement of cargo and raised fears of a possible fuel crisis as the stalemate between the state government and truck operators continued for the fourth day on Wednesday.

Confirming that the arrival of consignments for export had gone down by nearly 50 per cent, officials at the Nedumbaserry International Airport, said cargo coming from long distances had been particularly affected.

"While local exporters, especially those who use their own vehicles, can manage to send their consignments, those using public vehicles are beginning to feel the pinch of the strike," the airport officials said.

Regarding passenger flights, they said these had not been affected as the district authorities had made arrangements with the BPCL outlet to supply aviation fuel to the airport with police escort.

However, despite the arrangements, the fuel supplies had gone down and the airport was not getting its regular quantum of fuel, they added. Regarding the movement of general cargo from Cochin Port, a spokesman for the Cochin Port Trust said the movement of cargo to and from the port had been affected.

“As of now, storage is not a problem for us and the imported consignments, such as potash for some companies in Coimbatore and water pipes for a JBIC-funded project, have been stored in the port premises. These will be taken by the importers as and when they can make arrangements for transportation,” he said.