Jalandhar, October 22
Negotiations between the representatives of four major oil companies and petrol tanker operators at the local
Indian Oil Corporation oil terminal failed to yield any result today even as the indefinite strike by nearly 2,200 petrol tanker operators continued for the third day, leading to apprehensions that all petrol stations in the state would go dry within a day or two.
Parleys between the representatives of all four major oil companies operating in the northern region and the Punjab Petroleum Tankers Union went on at the local oil terminal for about four hours in the afternoon, but the stand-off between the parties continued due to the alleged failure of the oil companies to come out with an acceptable solution to the problem.
The representatives of the oil companies had promised that negotiations with tanker operators would be held on October 26, but no invitation was given to the agitating operators, who resolved to continue their agitation and urged the Punjab Chief Minister to order the registration of cases against senior officials of the oil companies for causing harassment to public.
Claiming that Punjab Petrol Dealers Association chief J.P. Khanna had also extended support to the agitation, Mr Davinder Singh Babbu, president of the Punjab Petrol Tankers Union, said about 70 to 80 per cent of petrol stations in the state had gone dry and situation was likely to go worse in the coming two to three days in case oil companies failed to respond positively.
The tanker operators have been demanding to revoke a recent order issued by oil companies prohibiting plying of tankers more than 15 years old. They are also opposing oil companies’ decision to effect an about 10 per cent cut in the transportation charges paid to tanker operators of the state.
Our Correspondent adds from Bathinda:
With oil tanker operators on a strike, many petrol stations of the city and surrounding areas have gone dry and vehicle owners and farmers have started buying petrol and diesel in bulk.
A local oil tanker operator alleged that oil companies were forcing them to operate at Rs 6 per kilolitre less than the agreed rates.
A cross-section of petrol station owners, when contacted, said they had exhausted their stocks.
