Oil strike finally ends

In a major relief to people across the country hit by the oil sector strike, petroleum secretary R S Pandey told newsmen on Friday that the oil officers' strike was over and fuel supply would be normal by Saturday afternoon.

State-run oil companies -- Bharat Petroleum Corporation, Indian Oil Corporation, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and GAIL -- went on strike on Wednesday demanding hike in salary.

While BPCL was the first to call off the strike, the othe petro giant, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation did not join the agitation at all.

As supply started trickling into the petrol stations, Pandey appealed to the public to stop 'panic buying' as that would create more scarcity.

"The country has adequate stocks of petrol, diesel, LPG, kerosene and ATF (aviation turbine fuel). Attempts are being made to restore full supply by morning. One hundred and thirty eight LPG outlets would be functional by tonight in Mumbai and the rest of the outlets would be functional by morning. The ministry has set up a monitoring cell to keep an eye on the situation," Pandey said.

Thanking the media for their cooperation in highlighting the oil crisis, Union Petroleum Minister Murali Deora expressed unhappiness that some officers leading the strike refused to talk to the members of the high powered committee set up by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Insterad of engaging in discussion over their grievances, Deora said they decided to go on strike.

"It gives us no pleasure to dismiss our employees or take action against them. They are welcomed to hold talks. We will look into their grievances, and we will address those that we find as just. They get a good pay packet of Rs 125,000 to 300,000 per month," Pandey said. He complimented the chairmen of those organisations who kept their word and ensured that their employees did not join strike. Army and Territorial army have also helped.

While the ministry said more than sixty per cent petrol pumps are already operational, truckers' strike was making dispatches difficult.