No gas? Wait for backlog to clear

Sources say 'go slow' agitation by mathadi workers who deliver LPG cylinders to your door step has caused a backlog, claim there is no shortage

No gas? Wait for backlog to clear

Sources say 'go slow' agitation by mathadi workers who deliver LPG cylinders to your door step has caused a backlog, claim there is no shortage

Not getting the cooking gas cylinder on time? It is not because there is not enough gas, but because the mathadi workers, who deliver the bottled gas to your doorstep, have deliberately paced down, to protest for pay hikes.

Owing to the backlog, this man had to walk all the way to south Mumbai from Lalbaug for his gas cylinder

Industry sources told MiD DAY that the 'go slow' agitation by mathadi loaders employed with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has led to what they are calling a "backlog" of cylinders in the metropolis.

"There is no shortage of cylinders whatsoever. However, there is a backlog, because of the 'go slow' agitation by mathadi loaders for more wages.

"Earlier, when they had gone on a strike, we had approached the court. When the court asked them to resume work, they resorted to a 'go slow' which has resulted in the backlog," a BPCL spokesperson said.

"We are trying to clear the backlog of LPG cylinders by getting them from Uran in Navi Mumbai, and Pune. We are giving priority to the needs of those families with only a single LPG cylinder."

Who'll bear costs?

Oil marketing companies like BPCL and others are concerned that any more increase in the wages of mathadi loaders would mean customers will end up bearing the additional costs.

"Already there is a subsidy of around Rs 250 per cylinder of cooking gas. If our transporters are forced to pay more to these labourers, then customers may end up paying a higher price," the spokesperson said.

Azad Popatia, a former general secretary of the All India LPG Distributors' Federation, said,u00a0 "We have approached the High Court over the 'go slow' agitation and the hearing is on March 17.

We are also talking to the mathadi union, to resolve the issue amicably and in everybody's interest."

Slowdown

Bharat Gas supplies LPG cylinders around 14 lakh households in the city. Prior to the agitation, the former supplied around 180 truckloads of cylinders per day.

However, after the agitation, the mathadi labourers at Bharat Gas load and unload not more than 100 trucks, sources said.u00a0

14 lakh
The number of households BPCL supplies LPG cylinders to

11 lakh
The number of households HPCL supplies LPG cylinders to

Voices

"At times, they deliver cylinders so late that we have to ask our neighbours for spare cylinders. Though we order a month before we need the gas, we still face delays."
Geeta Zala, (Bharat Gas), Parel

"We have to place the order three weeks before we need the cylinders. When we enquire about our order, they deny having received it and say that we must place it again."
Mayawati Sudhrik, (Bharat Gas), Currey Road

Inputs by Arvind Walmiki

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