About 2,000 petrol pumps run dry as truckers strike against new penal code

About 2000 petrol pumps mostly in western and northern India have run out of fuel stocks as the strike by some truckers associations entered the second day on TuesdayWhile stateowned oil firms had topped up tanks at most petrol pumps across the country in anticipation of the truckers strike some petrol pumps in Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra and Punjab ran out of stock due to heavy rush industry officials saidLong queues were witnessed at several pumps in these states as panic set in on stocks running outSituation in southern India is better with no major supply disruption barring a few pumps in Hyderabad they saidEssential supplies of vegetables fruits and milk too may get affected if the threeday strike is extended or a panIndia movement is launchedSome truck bus and tanker operators began a threeday strike on Monday against the stringent jail and fine regulations under the new criminal law Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita BNS for hitandrun casesThe All India Motor Transport Association the umbrella body of truck operators has so far not given a nationwide strike call and its representatives will be meeting home ministry officials to raise their concerns around BNSThe industry officials said most petrol pumps have stocks to last 23 days and should not see any problems if the strike was to last for the stated three days However there will be trouble if the strike is extended or a panIndia protest is called they addedThere are about 1 lakh trucks that ferry petrol and diesel as well as LPG from oil company depots to petrol pumps and gas distribution agenciesThe strike has impacted the movement of trucks in some western and northern states they said adding some LPG truck movement too has been impactedHowever there is no complaints on LPG shortage just yet as most users have double connections two LPG cylinders and reserve stock even if one cylinder gets exhaustedIf the strike were to get extended LPG supplies too may get hit they saidIn Maharashtra the state government requested police to ensure an uninterrupted supply of petrol and diesel while commuters in Madhya Pradesh encountered travel inconvenienceSince Monday protestors have blockaded roads and highways across states like Gujarat Rajasthan Maharashtra and Madhya PradeshThe new law which replaced the colonialera Indian Penal Code provides for a jail of up to 10 years andor a fine of Rs 7 lakh for serious road accidents due to negligent driving and where drivers run away without informing the policeTruckers said most truck drivers choose to run away even in minor accidents as they otherwise will have to face mob justice and risk of life While the mobs typically go unpunished to impose stringent punishment on drivers was unfair they saidLong queues at petrol pumps in Himachal Pradeshs Shimla and Dharamshala were also reportedHeavy rush was seen outside petrol pumps in Mumbai and Thane as people came to fill up their vehicle tanks fearing shortage of fuelPetrol Dealers Association Mumbai President Chetan Modi told PTI that the fuel supply to petrol pumps was affected due to the drivers agitation since Monday Petrol pumps started running dry yesterday If we dont get the supply most of the pumps will run out of fuel by the end of the day he saidProtesters obstructed highways in several districts of Gujarat including Kheda Valsad Gir Somnath Bharuch and Mehsana and in places like Nagpur in Maharashtra by using trucks as blockades on roadsTapan Sharma a former president of the Ahmedabad Motor Transport Association in Gujarat told PTI that the protests occurred spontaneously The association has not called for a strike Drivers are acting independently due to concerns about the new law They protest briefly and then move on However these sporadic demonstrations have caused delays in the delivery of goodsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever