Team Herald
VASCO: Several petrol pumps across the state ran dry as fuel tanker owners stopped operations protesting against the new rule of Zuari Indian Oil Tanking Limited (ZIOTL) making it compulsory for the driver and cleaner to wear seatbelts.
According to the sources, over 100 oil tankers that were waiting for refuelling at the ZIOCL main gate at Upasnagar, stopped their operations after a heated discussion with the ZIOCL officials over the new rule of compulsory wearing seat belt for the driver and cleaner.
“The ZIOTL officials had recently issued orders asking all the petroleum tanker owners supplying fuel from ZIOTL, that from August 1 they would not allow any oil tanker whose driver as well as cleaner was found not wearing seatbelts. Acting on the same, the ZIOCL officials stopped all those vehicles from entering its premises for refilling whose driver and cleaner were found not wearing seat belts,” sources further stated.
“This triggered chaos at the main gate of ZIOTL as all other oil tanker owners started condemning the ZIOTL management and stopped their operations. Many tankers returned empty. As the fuel pumps across the State started running dry, officials from taluka administration including Deputy Collector, Mamlatdar, police and others rushed to the site and tried to strike a compromise between ZIOTL and tanker owners,” sources said.
According to the Verna police, they received the information on the chaos at ZIOTL at about 3 pm, though the situation turned tensed since morning. “We went and deployed our force. Our senior officials along with taluka administration officials intervened and tried to convince the tanker owners. They were complaining that sufficient time was not given to them to comply with the seat belt formalities implemented by the ZIOTL. After discussions, ZIOTL officials assured to provide eight days additional time for tanker owners to make provisions for seat belts for drivers and cleaners. Tanker owners agreed to this and refuelling started in the evening,” police said.
“My petrol pump is located just within two kilometres away from ZIOTL still my petrol pump started running dry at 6 pm due to no supply of petroleum to us. I feel that the issue between the oil tanker owners and ZIOTL should be resolved on priority from Tuesday. If the supply does not résumé, then the situation would be worse and unimaginable,” said Rajan Bhosle, an owner of a petrol pump in Upasnagar, Sancoale.
