Odisha Drivers’ Strike Causes Petrol-Diesel Shortage, Rise In Vegetable Price

Bhubaneswar: With agitating Odisha Driver Mahasangha activists stopping goods and fuel carrying vehicles from plying on road, prices of vegetables started soaring on Thursday while the state may face a crisis-like situation in availability of petrol and diesel.

Sources said some fuel outlets in Bhubaneswar and other places have reportedly closed claiming that their stock of petrol and diesel had got exhausted.

According to Utkal Petroleum Dealers’ Association General Secretary Sanjay Lath, fuel is sent to over 1600 stations in the state from depots in Paradip, Balasore, Jharsuguda and Jatani using around 2000 tanker trucks.

In view of the strike call by the drivers of commercial vehicles, most fuel stations had refilled their stock for three days on Tuesday ahead of the agitation, he said, adding that most of the outlets have stock for three days.

Now fuel stations are unable to refill their stocks as these vehicles have been stopped by the agitators.

Asking people not to panic, he said if people start buying petrol and diesel more than their requirement out of panic, the fuel stock in the state may come to an end by tomorrow afternoon.

If the drivers’ issue is resolved soon, the vehicles can start moving from the depots to different places with petrol and diesel tomorrow, Lath said.

He also underlined the need for steps to keep petrol and diesel out of the purview of the drivers’ strike as these are considered essential commodities.

Ambulances will also fail to ply for non-availability of fuel if the striking drivers continue to stop vehicles carrying diesel and petrol, said Lath.

Meanwhile, supply of vegetables and essential articles were also affected as vehicles carrying these perishables are stuck on road due to the strike

As a result, prices of several vegetables have almost doubled in the market as people were seen making beeline at grocery and vegetable shops.

Meanwhile, Odisha Assembly Speaker Bikram Keshari Arukha directed Transport Minister Tukuni Sahu to hold discussion with the agitating drivers and give a statement in the House tomorrow.

It may be noted that the Odisha Drivers’  Mahasangha launched an indefinite state-wide strike on Wednesday to press for a 10-point charter of demands including social security and pension. Formation of a welfare fund, death benefits and pension after 60 years of age are among their demands.

The agitating drivers staged demonstration at various places in the state and resorted to picketing. The agitators were seen stopping commercial vehicles on National Highways.

However, All Odisha Bus Owners’ Association, Truck Owners’ Association and Auto-rickshaw Owners’ Association have not joined the strike.