Oil sector officers’ strike from today

Contingency plans in place

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Territorial Army on alert to take up operations of installations

Strikers warned of the strictest possible action

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NEW DELHI: With public sector oil officers rejecting the government’s appeal not to go on indefinite strike from 6 a.m. on Wednesday, the government has drawn up contingency plans to deal with the disruption in supply of petroleum products, including LPG, and warned of the strictest possible action against those abstaining from work.

The Oil Sector Officers Association (OSOA), which claims a following of around 45,000 executives, on Tuesday refused to heed the government’s offer of talks on the officers’ wage demands and announced its intention to go on strike. “We are only being offered verbal assurances and there is nothing concrete,” OSOA president Amit Kumar said.

Mr. Kumar on Monday met senior BJP leader L.K. Advani on the issue. Petroleum Minister Murli Deora on Tuesday spoke to Home Minister P. Chidambaram and the Chief Ministers of Assam and Maharashtra urging them to take steps to protect oil installations during the agitation. The Centre has put the Territorial Army on alert to take up operations of various oil sector installations. Officers of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) are not participating in the strike, while those of Oil India Ltd have also indicated that they may not join the agitation.

Meet with OMC heads

Petroleum Secretary R.S. Pandey on Tuesday held a high-level meeting of heads of oil marketing companies (OMCs) to take stock of the situation. He said Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India Limited (OIL) assured him that normal operations would be maintained at their facilities.

Private refineries’ offer

However, Mr. Pandey said operations in three major refineries could be affected and private refineries, including Reliance and Essar, had offered to supply petroleum products to the government in case of any emergency. He said a strike in the oil sector at this crucial juncture could cripple the economy and cause severe hardship to citizens. “We are not vindictive against our own officers. All we want is that the economy is not be impacted and citizens are spared of any hardship,” he added.

ESMA to be invoked

The Centre has already asked the States to invoke the Essential Supplies Maintenance Act (ESMA) to ensure that auto and cooking fuel supplies are not choked. The National Security Act (NSA) would be invoked in States that did not have ESMA.

The OMCs have initiated contempt proceedings in High Courts against the OSOA office bearers. The courts had barred the body from striking till the next date of hearing in February.

Source : The Hindu.