Tanker lorries linked to BPCL's Ennore terminal on strike
Tankers carrying fuel to retail outlets belonging to Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) are on strike demanding that a new transport tender be withdrawn. Around 150 tankers carrying petrol, diesel, lubricants and aviation fuel supplying from the company's Ennore terminal have halted services starting Saturday.
This has led disruption of supplies in a section of small-sized fuel retail outlets in several locations, said oil industry sources. 'There is a partial dry-out of bunks. Though outlets that own tankers are helping those that do not have vehicles, it is not enough. From tomorrow, the tanker owners say that they will not allow bunk-owned tankers to help others,' said a retailer.
E. Moorthy, president, Chennai Asanur, Petroleum Tanker Lorry Association, said that they were on partial strike on Thursday and Friday demanding that either the existing transport tender rates be continued or increase rates in the new tender. 'We had been badly hit during Covid-19 and also when the company's terminal was shifted from Tondiarpet to Ennore. Business has not been bad only during the last two years,' he said.
Association general secretary K. Velu said that the company was mobilizing tankers from Asanur. 'We have requested their support too. They will not ply to Chennai. If the issue is not resolved by Monday, we will stop operating tanker lorries to all the three oil companies. Around 700 tanker lorries are affiliated to our association,' he said.
A. Nasar, joint secretary of the association, said that aviation fuel supplies that have been partially stopped would be altogether halted from Tuesday if the company does not form a committee to fix transport rates. 'The rates in this new tender floated during September last year are 15% lesser than the current rates. All of us are in deep debt and a reduction in rates would mean a death knell for the industry,' he added.
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