QUIT STEERING WHEEL STRIKE AFFECTS SERVICES; PETROL CRISIS MAY OCCUR IN ODISHA
Bhubaneswar(06/01/2024): Protesting against the new law on ‘Hit and Run’ cases, more than two lakh drivers continued their Quit Steering Wheel strike in several locations across Odisha for the third day. As a part of the strike which began all over India from Thursday, the members of Odisha Drivers’ Mahasangh joined it after handing over their vehicles to their respective owners. Utkal Petroleum Dealer Association General Secretary Sanjay Lath said, “Petrol crisis may occur by tomorrow afternoon.
He said that 20% more petrol has been sold due to panic buying.
Petrol and diesel loading has reduced by 75% due to ongoing strike.
Oil loading from Paradip depot is completely stopped.
Oil loading from Jatni and Balasore depots is underway in few lanes.
We cannot meet the amount of oil we need.
If this is the situation, petrol, diesel will run out by tomorrow afternoon." As a result of the protest, around 70 thousand litres of milk supply by Odisha Milk Producers’ Federation Limited (OMFED) to the dairy plants to Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Puri and Keonjhar was affected.
As the buses stayed off the roads, passengers waiting at the Netaji Bus Terminal in Cuttack are facing a lot of difficulties in their daily travel. Odisha Drivers’ Mahasangh President Prashant Menduli said, “The Centre has made a new rule of ten years imprisonment and Rs 7 lakh fine for hit and run offences.
We will stage peaceful protest until our demands are met.” .
