LPG tanker lorry owners in south withdraw strike after IOC’s assurance on rental dues

Namakkal: The Southern Region LPG Bulk Gas Tanker Lorry Owners Association began a strike on Monday and withdrew it within a few hours after Indian Oil Corporation assured to pay the pending rental dues of about Rs 50 crore within two days.According to the association, IOC delayed their rental payments for the last four months, affecting tanker owners.After repeated appeals, the association warned IOC by email that it would begin a protest from Monday if the arrears were not cleared.On Monday morning, the 1,000 IOC-linked LPG tanker trucks were parked without loading at various locations. Association president Sundararajan said the protest would continue until IOC paid the dues.Later, IOC senior officials held talks with representatives of the association and assured them by email that all pending arrears would be paid within two days.Following this assurance, Sundarrajan said the association accepted the commitment and withdrew the strike.The association has about 4,500 bullet tanker trucks, of which around 1,000 operate for IOC on contract. The association represents tanker operators from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Puducherry.