Truck owners to picket petrol pumps on Jun 27 on premium fuel

Chennai, June 23 (UNI) Truck owners in Tamil Nadu would picket gas stations in the state on June 27 to protest 'the oil companies' decision to make available only high speed petrol and diesel.' Truck Owners Association President Sukumar said after the Centre hiked fuel prices on June five, the oil companies, adding to woes, dispensed with the sale of ordinary petrol and diesel.

The truck owners were severely affected after the Centre hiked the fuel prices and when the oil companies stopped the supply of ordinary petrol and diesel, they were finding it extremely difficult to operate services, he claimed.

He said the association had given time till June 26 to the oil companies to make available ordinary petrol and diesel failing which, its members would picket pumping stations on June 27.

Though the Centre hiked the price of petrol by Rs five and diesel by Rs three, consumers in the state, especially in towns, were paying Rs three to Rs five more (in addition to the hike) for the fuel as the pumping stations 'made available' only ''value added'' diesel and petrol.

Consumers were forced to buy the high speed petrol and diesel as they had no option. The Indian Oil Company (IOC) was the first to introduce the system, followed by other oil companies.

Hindustan Petroleum was initially making available ordinary petrol and diesel, but it too fell in line with the other companies.

Voicing the concern of the public, Former Chief Minister and AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa had sought the intervention of Central and State Governments to ensure availability of ordinary petrol and diesel, but there was no action from them so far.

Most of the consumers were unanimous that public sector oil companies were taking them for a ride.

''It was nothing but cheating as the high speed petrol and diesel, supposed to give extra mileage, only affected the performance of the engine,'' he claimed.

He demanded that the government intervene in the matter and ensure the oil companies made available ordinary petrol and diesel.

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