Private transporters’ stir worsens LPG shortage

CHENNAI: Many homes in the city are experiencing LPG shortage after a section of private transport contractors struck work demanding a hike in unloading charges.
LPG distributors said some private transport contractors were not willing to unload cylinders at their godowns, saying the Rs 4,300 they got per trip was too low, especially after they had to increase the salaries of drivers and helpers at the Ennore bottling plant of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) from Rs 465 to Rs 930 per load.
Private transport contractors said the amount should be revised. “It’s difficult to survive without revising transport charges. If we don’t get more, we will be making losses,” said a transport contractor. Some dealers said orders will pile up if the strike continues, when the delivery boys begin to go on leave for Diwali.
All India Indane Distributors' Association general secretary C G Krishnamoorthy, said there is a backlog of cylinders after the recent strike by contract workers at the Ennore bottling plant. “Now transporters have begun a strike, causing further shortage of cylinders in circulation.”
An Indane distributor said he has a huge backlog of bookings, up to 20 days. The private transporters strike has worsened the condition. “It’s difficult to hire a worker from outside to unload these cylinders,” he said. IOC officials said that discussions are on with the transporters. They expect to resume supply in a couple of days.
Meanwhile, consumers are worried over the decision of the National Federation of LPG Distributors of India (NFLDI) to go on strike on October 1 against the government decision to restrict supply of subsidised gas to six cylinders per household in a year. But LPG dealers in the city said they are unlikely to participate in the strike. Nearly 60% of the city’s LPG consumers are serviced by IOC’s Indane.
Every day the plant in Ennore produces nearly 150 loads with 45,000 cylinders. The plant in Manali is also not working because of maintenances in the last one week.