PUNE – Panic buying has gripped the city of Pune as fuel supply to the 12 districts of Nashik, northern Maharashtra, and Marathwada was impacted due to a strike called by the transporters’ associations of fuel companies. The strike is in protest against section 106 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), which imposes severe penalties on hit-and-run drivers. As a result, long queues were seen at various petrol pumps in Pune city.
The strike, supported by around 1,500 fuel tanker drivers, caused a shortage of fuel across the state, affecting not just the general public but also the transportation of goods. Devotees who had traveled to Shirdi Sai Baba for darshan were particularly inconvenienced, as there were no available MSRTC (Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation) or private tourist buses for travel.
Pinak Kamble, a devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba, expressed his disappointment, stating, I had come to Shirdi to take darshan of Sai Baba on the first day of the year, so today I wanted to go back to Kolhapur with my family. As we did not get a state transport (ST) bus, we tried to check with private tourist buses but none of the buses were available. So today we took a day’s halt at Shirdi, and we will travel tomorrow morning.
The strike not only affected fuel supply in Maharashtra, but it also disrupted overall transportation across the state. However, there is reassurance from the All India Petrol Dealers’ Association that the pan-India strike will not impact the supply of petrol and diesel. The Pune district administration has taken measures to ensure the smooth functioning of petrol pumps and police protection is being provided to petroleum tankers.
A meeting between the administration and the tanker drivers was held at the Panewadi Fuel Plant of Manmad, resulting in a positive outcome and a solution to the strike. Nashik district collector Jalaj Sharma confirmed, Discussions have been held with the vehicle drivers and transporters. We have heard the demands of the drivers who were on strike. After understanding their issues and questions, we have promised to present these to the administration and central government. Therefore, the drivers are now ready to get back to work.
While the supply of fuel is expected to be restored in the affected districts soon, it is advisable for residents to remain calm and avoid panic buying. The situation is under control, and all necessary steps are being taken to ensure the smooth availability of fuel in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
The strike by transporters reminds us of the interconnectedness of various sectors and highlights the need for effective communication and understanding between stakeholders. As the situation resolves and normalcy returns, it is important to learn from such incidents and work towards a more harmonious and cooperative environment.
