Public transportation system in the city and its adjoining districts was affected on Monday due to non-availability of fuel following an indefinite strike called by the West Bengal Tankers Association.
"The situation is bad. About 50 per cent private buses could not ply due to non-availability of diesel in petrol pumps," Sadhan Das, President of Joint Council of the Bus Syndicate said.
President of West Bengal Petroleum Dealers Association Tushar Kanti Sen said that almost all pumps in the metropolis and its adjoining districts including North and South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Howrah, Nadia went dry due to lack of supply of petroleum from Maurigram and Budgebudge oil depots.
State Transport Minister Subhas Chakraborty convened a meeting during the day to sort out the impasse with the strike entering the fifth day on Monday.
Gautam Datta, General Manager, Indian Oil Corporation, West Bengal and the state level coordinator of oil companies, said the situation would be discussed at the meeting convened by the minister.
Asked whether the oil companies are going to offer an enhanced rate as demanded by the Tankers Association, he remained non-committal. "We will discuss all issues at the meeting," Datta said.
{{/usCountry}}Asked whether the oil companies are going to offer an enhanced rate as demanded by the Tankers Association, he remained non-committal. "We will discuss all issues at the meeting," Datta said.
{{/usCountry}}Ajit Das of the striking Tankers' Association said that they would continue the stir unless their demand for higher transportation rate from Mourigram and Budge Budge depots was met by oil companies.
"We have deferred the strike four times. This time we will not budge," he said.