Namakkal: The Southern Region LPG Bulk Gas Tanker Lorry Owners Association called off its strike on Monday just hours after it began, following an assurance from Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) that pending rental dues of approximately Rs 50 crore would be cleared within two days.
Strike Called Over Pending Dues
According to the association, IOC had delayed rental payments for the last four months, causing financial strain on tanker owners. Despite repeated appeals, the company did not settle the arrears, prompting the association to issue an email warning that a protest would commence from Monday if the dues were not paid.
Protest Actions
On Monday morning, around 1,000 IOC-linked LPG tanker trucks were parked without loading at various locations across the region. Association president Sundararajan stated that the protest would continue until IOC cleared the pending amounts.
Resolution Through Talks
Later in the day, senior IOC officials held discussions with association representatives and provided a written assurance via email that all pending arrears would be paid within two days. Accepting this commitment, Sundararajan announced the withdrawal of the strike.
Association Details
The association comprises about 4,500 bullet tanker trucks, of which approximately 1,000 operate on contract for IOC. It represents tanker operators from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Puducherry.
