GUWAHATI: Northeast (Packed) LPG Transporters’ Association has warned of a “bigger” agitation than the one launched two months back if a tripartite meeting with the Assam government and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, scheduled later this week, fails to “address their demands”.
Back in September, an acute crisis of LPG cylinders loomed over the region, albeit for a brief period, with the association taking resort to ceasework for six days. The state government thereafter agreed to look into their demands within November 20 following which the agitation was called off temporarily.
“The state government has agreed to hold a tripartite meeting to deliberate on our demands on November 15 or 16. The joint secretary, Union petroleum ministry (on behalf of IOCL) will also be present at the meeting,” Jayanta Nath, the president of the association, told The Shillong Times on Tuesday.
The association is against the alleged alterations in the terms and conditions of the tendering process by the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd authorities and subsequent reduction of profit margin by 21 per cent. Besides, it has expressed serious reservations against alleged shifting of the operations of the IOCL head office from Guwahati to Kolkata.
“We are hopeful of a positive outcome as our concerns are serious. But if nothing emerges by November 20, then we shall have no other option but to resort to an indefinite cease work, which unfortunately will affect LPG supply and availability in the subsequent period,” Nath said.
There were a few rounds of discussions between the representatives of the association and IOCL authorities here during and after the cease work in September, which however failed to arrive at a consensus.
Work in 11 LPG cylinder bottling across the Northeast, including six in Assam, had come to an abrupt halt since the strike was undertaken two months back. More than 1200 trucks that transport the LPG cylinders to agencies across the region had stopped lying during the six days, creating shortage of the kitchen essential.
Trucks under the association ferry close to 22,000 LPG cylinders in Guwahati alone daily while 16,000 cylinders are supplied to Shillong and Tura every day.
Sources in the association also alleged that the IOCL authorities were even planning to provide transportation facilities to the LPG agencies which the members apprehended would leave them in the lurch.