Assam Government Moves IOCL for Resolving Truckers’ Stir

LPG CRISIS

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Sept 12: Even as the stir of Northeast Packed LPG Transporters Association entered the fourth day today stalling the entire process of supply of LPG across North East, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Phani Bhushan Choudhury directed Principal Secretary Maninder Singh today to hold talks with IOCL to sort out the issue at the earliest.

Altogether 2,500 trucks engaged in LPG transportation are presently not in service following the stir. The truckers are demanding a review of the new rule of IOCL that has slashed the transportation costs of the truckers. Several rounds of talks have already been held but none has been successful leading to the present stalemate.

Dispur has also directed the DCs and SPs of the districts where the six IOCL bottling plants are located to ensure that adequate security measures be given at the entry and exit points to the willing truckers to carry out loading of LPG cylinders. The bottling plants are at Kamrup (two), Tinsukia, Cachar, Chirang and Dibrugarh (one each).

Further, they were also requested to take up appropriate steps for maintaining law and order and ensuring uninterrupted supply of LPG packed cylinders to the consumers. This issue was also taken up with Additional Chief Secretary, Home & Political department with a request to issue necessary instructions to DGP, Assam and all concerned to ensure that picketers are not allowed to carry out blockade of the bottling plants and prevent disruption of distribution of LPG packed cylinders to the consumers. In the meantime IOCL authorities informed that they have held meetings both on September 11 and 12 with the office bearers and members of the Association to discuss and settle down the issue thus raised.

Talking to The Sentinel, Principal Secretary Food and Civil Supplies department Maninder Singh said, “Dispur is concerned over the issue. We have asked the IOCL authorities to sort out the issue at the earliest. More review meetings will be held in the next few days. We’re confident that a solution will be found out soon.”