LPG bullet TTs launch cease work strike

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 7: Decrying IOC’s refusal to induct 89 more LPG bullet TTs for transportation of bulk LPG to the State, LPG bullet TTs have launched a cease work strike from today.
Following the launch of the cease work strike, empty LPG bullet TTs have halted movement to LPG loading points located outside the State.
Speaking to media persons today, All Manipur Bulk LPG Transporters Association secretary Kh Jodha said that the association has a fleet of 150 bullet TTs and 41 transporters are enrolled with it.
Through an all India open tender held in 2018, 230 bullet TTs were called for requisition at Sekmai bottling plant. Later, 60 TTs of 12 MT and 126 TTs of 7.5 MT were requisitioned.
This fleet of 186 TTs can sometimes transport the State’s monthly allocation of LPG fully and sometimes not, Jodha said.
Although 89 other TTs were also qualified in the tender, they were kept on waiting list. As the 89 TTs have been kept idle, the owners have been facing a hard time in repaying loans taken for  purchasing them. Moreover, LPG TTs cannot be used for any other purpose except transporting LPG, he said.
The association has been urging the IOC to induct at least some of the bullet TTs kept on waiting list, if not all but to no avail so far, he continued.
Even the Chief Minister had written twice to the IOC and once by the CAF&PD Secretary to induct the TTs kept on waiting list. As there has been no response till date, LPG bullet TT drivers have been compelled to launch a cease work strike, Jodha said.
Reacting to the claim of the Bulk LPG Transporters, Owners and Representatives Association that the cease work strike is in contravention of the guidelines of IOC and NIT, Jodha decried that the same claim is nothing but undue interference in the works of IOC and a deliberate attempt to project LPG TT drivers in wrong light. 
Bulk LPG Transporters, Owners and Representative Association was formed only at the time of holding tender. They have only 28 bullet TTs and only 14 transporters are affiliated with it, he claimed while appealing to all concerned not to project the cease work strike in wrong light.