Panipat, November 12
With the indefinite strike by the Haryana Petroleum Tankers Association entering the second day, an acute shortage of petroleum products is on the cards in the region.
With Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) adopting an adamant attitude, members of the association did not load any tankers from the Panipat refinery even today demanding an increase in transportation charges, besides other demands. The talks between representatives of the agitating association and the authorities concerned failed to yield any results. Sources said if the strike was prolonged, a serious shortage of petroleum products was likely in most parts of the northern India.
Meanwhile, members of the association sit in a dharna outside the refinery here yesterday under the leadership of the association president, Mr Ranjit Singh Chauhan. Among the major demands of the association are the hike in the transportation charges. The present rate is Rs 1.29 per litre. The rate was fixed years ago.
Mr Chauhan alleged the association had been giving representations to the IOC for a long time, but it had turned a deaf ear to its demands. On the question of inconvenience to the general public, the association members said they had been forced by the IOC and the district administration to take the extreme step. The strike would continue till their demands were met, Mr Chauhan said.
