The Hindu : Strike hits stocks in fuel outlets

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 17, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Strike hits stocks in fuel outlets

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM JULY 16. The fuel outlets in the city witnessed `panic filling' of petrol and diesel by vehicle-owners today as tanker supplies were hit by the indefinite strike called by lorry and truck owners to press for rollback in the recent vehicle tax hike in the State.

The majority of fuel outlets in the city did not receive any tanker loads from the oil companies after Monday and many private outlets ran dry by this evening. Vehicle-users made a beeline for the pumps as the news spread that the outlets were running out of stock.

The outlets near the SP Fort Hospital in West Fort and near Parthas closed down by evening as the stocks ran out. The stock of petrol exhausted in the two pumps at Pattom also.

The Bharat Petroleum (BP) outlet near the Manmohan Bungalow in Kowdiar received one tanker load of petrol today. The private tanker lorry was smashed by the supporters of the strike near Veli, while it was returning to the depot, according to the staff. The Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation's four outlets at Ulloor, Statue, Vellayambalam and near Althara junction did not receive any load from the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) today.

At the Statue outlet of the IOC, the sale of petrol today surpassed the average daily sales of 4,000 litres. The spurt in sales was reportedly due to panic buying in view of the ongoing strike, according to officials at the outlet.

A Civil Supplies Corporation official said the department would seek the help of the IOC to get adequate supplies for its four outlets. In view of the strike, the IOC is supplying fuel to the KSRTC in its own vehicles under police escort.

Meanwhile, there has been a spurt in the prices of vegetables in the city markets as the strike hit supply from the neighbouring States and rural areas of the district.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Seats for Plus Two courses to go up by 5 p.c.

Graft charges against Cherkalam

'Zoo violating rules'

Renovation: row over bunks settled

Doctor held

Suspected dengue death at MCH

Strike hits stocks in fuel outlets