ID :
39732
Fri, 01/09/2009 - 18:57
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/39732
The shortlink copeid
Central forces to be used for ensuring fuel supply: India
New Delhi, Jan 9 (PTI) Concerned over the fuel shortages
and petrol pumps running dry, the Indian government Friday
said it would deploy central forces to ensure supply lines are
not dried due to the ongoing strike by oil sector executives.
"The Government will deploy central forces wherever
necessary," Petroleum Secretary R S Pandey told reporters even
as Petroleum Minister Murli Deora met Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh to brief him about the strike by officers of oil PSUs
that entered the third day today.
In Mumbai CNG production has resumed and supply is
expected soon. Some two lakh buses, taxis and autos in Mumbai
run on CNG.
Delhi had enough CNG and piped natural gas stocks to last
7 to 10 days.
The option to bring in central forces has been exercised
because as there was no loading or cargo despatching activity
in IndianOil Corporation. IOC Chairman Sarthak Behuria said,
"We have exhausted all options and now we have to make
officers work."
A large number of petrol pumps across the country went
dry as the indefinite strike by oil PSU executives entered the
third day today, with the possibility of a major fuel supply
crisis looming large.
However, some officers have returned to work in BPCL.
Aviation refuelling services were near normal and HPCL was
functioning as usual.
About two-thirds of the 425 petrol pumps in the National
Capital did not open because of lack of stocks, while 60 per
cent outlets in Mumbai put up 'No Stock' signboards.
While Hindustan Petroleum pumps across the country were
operating normally, Bharat Petroleum senior management
officials were ensuring that there were dispatches of petrol
and diesel to the company's outlets.
Petroleum Minister Murli Deora late Thursday evening
visited Noida on the outskirts of the national capital to
meet the striking Oil Sector Officers Association (OSOA)
leaders but the talks to resolve the imbroglio failed.
The OSOA kept harping on the Government acceding to its
demand for higher increase in wages than those approved in
November but Deora said he did not have the powers to approve
anything that would also have ramifications for other PSUs.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has appointed a committee
of ministers headed by Home Minister P Chidambaram to look
into their demands, and it is expected to give its report in
less than 30 days.
Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) Chairman R S Sharma
failed to convince his officials to resume gas production at
the country's largest field in Western Offshore, affecting
power generation and fertiliser production.
Crude oil production at Mumbai offshore was almost half
at 1,80,000 barrels and four key refineries of IndianOil
operated at 25 to 30 per cent of capacity. PTI
and petrol pumps running dry, the Indian government Friday
said it would deploy central forces to ensure supply lines are
not dried due to the ongoing strike by oil sector executives.
"The Government will deploy central forces wherever
necessary," Petroleum Secretary R S Pandey told reporters even
as Petroleum Minister Murli Deora met Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh to brief him about the strike by officers of oil PSUs
that entered the third day today.
In Mumbai CNG production has resumed and supply is
expected soon. Some two lakh buses, taxis and autos in Mumbai
run on CNG.
Delhi had enough CNG and piped natural gas stocks to last
7 to 10 days.
The option to bring in central forces has been exercised
because as there was no loading or cargo despatching activity
in IndianOil Corporation. IOC Chairman Sarthak Behuria said,
"We have exhausted all options and now we have to make
officers work."
A large number of petrol pumps across the country went
dry as the indefinite strike by oil PSU executives entered the
third day today, with the possibility of a major fuel supply
crisis looming large.
However, some officers have returned to work in BPCL.
Aviation refuelling services were near normal and HPCL was
functioning as usual.
About two-thirds of the 425 petrol pumps in the National
Capital did not open because of lack of stocks, while 60 per
cent outlets in Mumbai put up 'No Stock' signboards.
While Hindustan Petroleum pumps across the country were
operating normally, Bharat Petroleum senior management
officials were ensuring that there were dispatches of petrol
and diesel to the company's outlets.
Petroleum Minister Murli Deora late Thursday evening
visited Noida on the outskirts of the national capital to
meet the striking Oil Sector Officers Association (OSOA)
leaders but the talks to resolve the imbroglio failed.
The OSOA kept harping on the Government acceding to its
demand for higher increase in wages than those approved in
November but Deora said he did not have the powers to approve
anything that would also have ramifications for other PSUs.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has appointed a committee
of ministers headed by Home Minister P Chidambaram to look
into their demands, and it is expected to give its report in
less than 30 days.
Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) Chairman R S Sharma
failed to convince his officials to resume gas production at
the country's largest field in Western Offshore, affecting
power generation and fertiliser production.
Crude oil production at Mumbai offshore was almost half
at 1,80,000 barrels and four key refineries of IndianOil
operated at 25 to 30 per cent of capacity. PTI
