LPG tanker owners announce indefinite strike; six southern states to face supply shortage

LPG

The supply of LPG cylinders in the six southern states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry is expected to be disrupted, as around 4,000 LPG tankers will halt operations starting Thursday due to unsuccessful negotiations with oil companies.

Addressing a press conference in Namakkal, Sundararajan, the president of the South Indian LPG Tanker Owners Association, said, "Around 4,000 trucks carry gas from ports to bottling plants of Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry. The oil companies recently released new contract rules for 2025-30, which prohibit the use of two-axle trucks and allow only three-axle trucks."

He also mentioned that the new contract regulations imposed several restrictions, including a Rs 20,000 penalty for not having a substitute driver or cleaner. Furthermore, trucks involved in even minor accidents would be disqualified from participating in the tender process for three years.

Sundararajan asserted that they were unable to reach to any agreement with the oil companies even after three rounds of discussion. "We have conducted three rounds of discussions with the oil companies, but no agreement has been reached. Therefore, we have decided to initiate an indefinite strike in the southern region starting March 27. This action will lead to a shortage of LPG cylinders in five states and in the Union territory of Puducherry,” he said.

He also mentioned that tanker truck owners from across the country would join the strike. "We are taking this step to prevent job losses. The strike will persist until the oil companies willingly engage in negotiations," he said. The strike might result in a shortage of both domestic and commercial cylinders in southern states.