BPCL staff return to work, to resume supply soon

In some relief to the people hit by the oil sector strike, state-run Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) today said it would resume fuel supplies at all locations starting this evening, as more than 65 per cent of the striking employees returned to work.

"Over 65 per cent of the people have resumed work in marketing. By this evening, we will be able to resume fuel supply at all locations.... To make up for the backlog, we would work on Saturday and Sunday too," BPCL Director (Marketing) S Radhakrishnan said here.

After the Maharashtra government invoked Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) on Thursday, Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) registered over 65 per cent of attendance across its offices in the country.

Denying media reports that Hindustan Petroleum Corporation had joined the strike on Thursday, the company clarified that it’s officials did not join the strike and its operations have been functioning normally throughout.

Over 55,000 white collared employees from the public sector oil companies have been on strike—under the umbrella of the Oil Sector Officer's Association (OSOA)—demanding higher wages.

On the other hand, Mahanagar Gas (MGL) has stopped supply to the the industrial, commercial and CNG segments in a phased manner, for ensuring supply to the domestic consumers. With these precautions, MGL has retained the uninterrupted gas supply to all its domestic consumers.

"In a joint meeting addressed by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, for reviewing the current scenario, ONGC has agreed to supply some additional Natural Gas to MGL. This will enable MGL to sustain its domestic piped gas supply and also start operating few of its CNG stations," the company said in a release.

Commensurating with the enhanced supply of gas by ONGC, MGL will start its CNG stations in a progressive manner. Giving priority to the public transport buses, MGL has commenced CNG supply at all BEST depots with CNG facility, the release added.