Mumbai: As the truck drivers’ protests continued on the second day, the supply of petroleum products distribution was affected in several parts of Maharashtra.
Long queues were witnessed at several fuel stations in Mumbai as well as other parts of the state even as the government asked the police to ensure smooth petroleum products.
The truckers are protesting against the new penal law on hit-and-run road accidents under which if an accused will face imprisonment upto 10 years or fine upto Rs seven lakh.
The protests were held at various places across Maharashtra including Mumbai, Nagpur, Solapur, Dharashiv, Navi Mumbai, Palghar, Nagpur, Beed, Hingoli, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Nashik, Gadchiroli and Wardha.
The Food, Civil Supply and Consumer Protection department of the Maharashtra government has asked the police to ensure smooth and uninterrupted supply of petrol, diesel and LPG cylinders in the market.
Maharashtra Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal has instructed all district collectors, police commissioners and superintendents of police to take measures for uninterrupted supply of petrol, diesel and LPG under any circumstances as the Petrol, diesel and LPG transporters have also participated in the protest against the new Act.
However, the strike has affected the supply, informed Chetan Modi, president of Petrol Dealers Association. According to Modi, the drivers are not ready to move any tankers from depots of oil marketing companies in Sewri despite security being provided to the vehicles. “I am hopeful that issue will be resolved by tomorrow. The people should not panic,” he said.
As the protests entered the second day, hundreds of trucks and tankers remained parked in front of the HPCL and BPCL refineries in Mahul area in Mumbai.
There were long queues of people at petrol pumps in Mumbai and other cities amid the fear of fuel shortage. Netizens posted videos of a long queue of vehicles at Petrol Pump on social media X.
S.M. Dixit, owner of a travel company, said that he had gone to many places to refill his vehicles but the petrol pumps did not have supplies. “I have visited multiple petrol pumps in Sakinaka, Marol and Airport areas. But the diesel is not available. More than 20 vehicles are not in service today. We are facing hardships due to the sudden strike by the drivers.”
The chairman-core committee and former president of All India Motor Transport Congress Bal Malkit Singh told this paper that it was spontaneous agitation called by the drivers. They have not given any call for the agitation. “We are holding a meeting with the Union home ministry regarding the new Act,” he said.
Truck drivers tried to block the Eastern Express Highway near Vikhroli in Mumbai, but police intervened and some of the protesters were detained, an official said.
