LPG strike at IndianOil ends
Kochi   09-Mar-2012

With LPG tanker operators calling off their strike late Wednesday night, the IndianOil bottling plant at Udayamperoor was back in business by Thursday afternoon.

But IndianOil officials here conceded that unlike the strike in mid-January, the seven-day strike this time has affected their supply considerably.

"It will take another two weeks for supply to become normal," said an official from the Udayamperoor plant. "We will work on the next couple of Sundays as well to overcome the shortage."

The strike was shelved following talks between IndianOil officials and representatives of tanker operators in South India, held in Chennai.

According to IndianOil officials, the state-run oil major and tanker operators agreed to arrive at a solution on demands raised by the operators within a month.

"We have not agreed to any demands but will hold negotiations with them (tanker operators)," a senior IndianOil official said over phone from Chennai.

The Udayamperoor plant official said, "The temporary arrangement with HPCL for bottling has been called off."

According to the official, IndianOil usually delivers gas cylinders within 25 days of an order being placed, but for some time that time gap might go up to 35 days. He assured that supply to all adjoining districts of Ernakulam would be normalised soon.

The official said IndianOil, the largest public sector oil retailer, would have to work overtime to meet the demand expected to rise in the coming Easter and Vishu festival days.

The official also said he had no information about LPG distributors in the state threatening to go on strike to demand increase in margin.

Meanwhile, residents heaved a sigh of relief. "I was worried since I have just one Indane connection. I am happy the strike has been called off," Ms Sunitha, a resident of Chilavannoor, said.