Mangalore: Petrol Pumps Go Dry in Twin Districts

Pics by Dayananda Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network [RS / FR]

Mangalore, Jan 8: Most petrol pumps in Mangalore started to run dry on Thursday, the second day of the nationwide strike called by employees of public sector oil companies, while many leaders of the agitating workers across India went underground fearing arrests under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).

There is utter chaos and confusion in front of most the petrol pumps in the city even as long ques of two and four wheelers are seen in front of most of the some of the petrol pumps which are exhausting whatever supply they have. 

Situation in Udupi is also similar to above.

Most of the petrol pumps are already displaying a no-stock board and anxious public are cuing up in front of those petrol pumps which are exhausting whatever little stock they have.   Though long cues could be seen in front of the petrol pumps since morning the situation turned grave as vehicle owners cued up to fill their tanks on their way to their homes.  Petrol pump staff has been doing their best to supply fuel without respite, to anxious customers.  

Their enthusiasm to reach home early could not be accomplished for many as the long cues meant waiting patiently in the cue with their vehicles for their turn.  Chaya Rao, who was on her way to home to Padil, after a hectic day at the office, came to fill her tank at MACO Co-operative Soceity run HPCL pump at Balmatta, had to wait for 45 minutes before she could fill her tank.  “I have to cross the railway bridge and if the railway gate is closed I am not sure what time I might reach home.  I have already lost valuable 45 minutes waiting in the cue”, she stated worriedly. 

Gurupreeth, owner of IOC petrol pump at Shivabhag says “our stock of ordinary petrol is over.  Now we are left with little stock of Xtra Premium petrol and little stock of diesel.  Our stock may go dry any moment. The stock may depend on the inflow of vehicles. Whatever stock of diesel we have is mainly because of truckers strike.  Otherwise diesel stock would have exhausted by now”. 

With Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Bharath Petroleum (BP) Officers on strike most of the IOC and BP petrol pumps are already dry.  Naturally long serpentine cues could be witnessed in front of HPCL petrol pumps, as HPCL employees have not yet joined the strike call.

While ordinary people may relate the shortage of fuel to truckers strike, the present imbroglio is due to the strike call given by the Oil Sector Officers Association (OSOA), demanding pay revision and fulfilling of their long standing demands.  The officers are on strike from yesterday and petrol pumps are facing the shortage from today as they have not received their regular supply yesterday.

MACO run HPCL in Balmatta, has already exhausted diesel stock.  Going by the long cues the pump may exhaust its stock before 10.00 pm today.  A A Rodrigues, Vice President of MACO says “We have already booked a tanker.  We are expecting fresh supply tonight”. 

One cannot imagine the situation tomorrow if the impasse continues.   In the absence of petrol and diesel transport system will grind to a halt.  Buses, auto and two-wheelers will be stranded halfway through. Supply of essential services like milk, vegetables, medicines etc., will also be affected. 

HPCL at Balmatta and IOC at Vaslane have exhausted their diesel stock and IOC pump at Shivbhag seems to be the only pump having some stock of diesel. 

The people are already reeling under the pressure of increasing cost of essential commodities following truckers strike.  Petrol pumps’ going dry is like another bolt from the blue for the ordinary people who are trying hard to cope up with the situation arising out of the truck strike.  This has been another headache they could do without. 

Tomorrow is a new day and hopefully people will be looking forward for a better situation.   

Bangalore: Truckers Strike - Many Petrol Bunks in City Go Dry 
 
Bangalore, Jan 8: Many petrol bunks in Bangalore city went dry and movement of construction material and industrial produce continued to be hit in Karnataka as the nationwide truckers strike entered the second day today.

Several petrol stations went dry as oil tankers joined the truckers's strike, Bangalore Petroleum Dealers Association said. In some places, the outlets resorted to rationing, limiting filling to one or two litres of fuel, they said.

However, supply of essential commodities was unaffected as vehicles carrying them were exempted from the purview of the strike."As many as 3.6 lakh vehicles are off the roads in Karnataka", Secretary of the Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents Association, B V Narayanappa said.

The Karnataka government has threatened to invoke provisions of ESMA if the strike continues and a decision on it is expected tomorrow. But the truckers are unrelenting."We have exempted vehicles carrying essential commodities. What's the use of invoking ESMA?", Narayanappa asked.

The General Secretary of the Federation of Goods Truck Association, Babu, said that tempo and lorry owners would not be cowed down by the Government's ESMA threat.

"If ESMA is invoked, we will stop our vehicles on the roads and intensify our agitation. We will be forced to stop vehicles carrying essential commodities", he warned.

Meanwhile,the government has directed state-run transport corporations to allow freight transport in their buses.