Fuel Crisis Hits Agartala Amid Oil Tanker Drivers’ Cease Work in Dharmanagar
Agartala, Feb 07, 2025, By Our Correspondent115
A fuel crisis has gripped Agartala and several other parts of Tripura, following an indefinite cease work by oil tanker drivers in Dharmanagar for the past two days. The strike has severely affected fuel supply, leading to long queues at several petrol pumps, while some fuel stations have completely halted distribution due to supply disruptions.
On Friday evening, the local administration in Dharmanagar issued an alert, warning that strict action would be taken against anyone obstructing the loading, unloading, and transportation of fuel at Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)’s Dharmanagar depot.
Cause of the Cease Work
According to local sources, the crisis was triggered by a clash between two factions of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) two days ago. The situation escalated on Thursday when the office of the oil tanker drivers was vandalized, prompting most of them to join the strike in protest.
Authorities Monitoring the Situation
The Tripura government and officials from the Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Department are closely monitoring the situation to ensure fuel supply is restored at the earliest. Efforts are underway to resolve the dispute and prevent further disruption in essential services.
In the Meantime ,Tripura Natural Gas Workers Threatened State-Wide Strike from February 17
The Tripura Natural Gas Company Limited (TNGCL) is facing mounting pressure as the Tripura Prakritik Gas Mazdoor Sangh (TPGMS) has issued a state-wide strike warning, set to begin on February 17, 2025, if their workforce-related concerns remain unaddressed.
Union Raises Workforce and Safety Issues
In a letter sent to TNGCL’s top management, including the Managing Director and Director (Commercial), TPGMS highlighted critical staff shortages and safety risks in operations. The union stressed that the current workforce is overstretched due to the growing demand for piped natural gas (PNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) services across Tripura.
Binoy Mallik, General Secretary of TPGMS, addressed the issue in a press conference, stating:
"For months, we have urged TNGCL to recruit additional staff to ensure smooth operations and maintain safety compliance. However, our repeated requests have been ignored, leaving workers burdened and endangering service quality."
Key Demands and Strike Deadline
The union has put forward several demands, including:
- Immediate recruitment to fill workforce gaps.
- Faster response times for customer service.
- Strengthening operation and maintenance (O&M) teams.
- Enhanced safety measures to prevent operational hazards.
TPGMS has issued a clear ultimatum: if these demands are not met by February 16, 2025, all TNGCL employees will withdraw from their duties from February 17, leading to a state-wide service disruption.
"This serves as an official notice that if the grievances of our irregular workers remain unresolved, we will have no choice but to suspend services across the state," Mallik warned.
Government Officials Notified
The letter has been forwarded to key government officials, including the Labour & Sports Minister and the Chairman of the Tripura Industrial Development Corporation (TIDC). With the deadline approaching, concerns are rising over potential disruptions to Tripura’s gas supply network, affecting both residential and commercial consumers.
As tensions escalate, all eyes are on TNGCL’s response and whether negotiations can prevent a large-scale disruption to the state's gas services.
(Representative Pic from internet)