With no end in sight to the strike by LPG transporters, consumers continue to face uncertainty over supply of LPG cylinders.
Failure of talks between the Tamil Nadu government and Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) has only worsened the situation.
Consumers in Karnataka and those in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala will have to face severe shortage of LPG cylinders, as the transporters are unwilling to withdraw their strike.
Karnataka alone needs 6,000 tonnes of LPG per day. The current supplies are not expected to last long.
Meet our demands
The South Zone Motor Transporters’ Welfare Association, that represents 3,700 tankers, has been pressing for various demands, including fixing of new transport rates and induction of as many as 500 truckers.
It has also demanded fixing of transport charges between Rs 2.80 and Rs 3 per tonne per kilometre.
The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), in a statement stated that the transporters resorted to indefinite strike despite assurances by the OMCs to meet their various demands.
“The transporters have sought a 78 per cent increase in the transport rate. Several rounds of negotiations with the transporters failed as the demands are unreasonable,” the IOC stated.
