Mumbai and Nagpur witnessed prolonged queues at petrol pumps as residents rushed to fill their vehicle tanks amidst concerns of an impending fuel shortage, triggered by the ongoing protest by truck drivers. Pics/ Anurag Ahire
A clause in the recently passed Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita penal code is the cause of the protest. This rule makes drivers responsible for hit-and-run incidents; breaking the law could result in jail time or heavy fines if the driver leaves the scene of the accident without calling the police.
The agitation has disrupted the supply chain to petrol pumps, according to Chetan Modi, president of the Petrol Dealers Association in Mumbai. He said fuel supplies have been hampered since Monday, leading to the imminent depletion of fuel reserves at many pumps.
In Sewri, Mumbai, drivers blocked the passage of fuel tankers from oil company depots, making it difficult to restock fuel supplies. The presence of police security at these locations did not make matters better, Modi said.
Transporters highlighted that the protest initiated spontaneously among a section of drivers, escalated through social media messages, but no official truckers' body has declared a strike.
Leaders in the transport sector, like Baba Shinde of the All India Motor Transport Congress, are convening meetings to strategise the next steps amidst this agitation.
Similar events occurred in Nagpur, where there were long lines at gas stations due to panic buying. According to a Shiv Sena official, the unrest affected local transport and upset the peace in the area.
Nagpur Collector Dr Vipin Itankar urged people against panic buying, assuring that there is sufficient fuel stock. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Food, Civil Supply, and Consumer Protection Department have urged police intervention for uninterrupted fuel supply.
Truck drivers' associations congregated at Nagpur's Samvidhan Chowk, said a Sena (UBT) leader, and added they planned to present their grievances and demands to the administration. Plans for future actions were discussed, he said.
Maharashtra government emphasised the need for unhindered fuel supply and sought action under the Essential Commodities Act against those disrupting petroleum product supply chains.
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