NAMAKKAL: Bulk LPG tanker operators called off their indefinite strike after seven days on Thursday. The decision to withdraw the stir was announced by leaders of the Southern Region bulk LPG Transport Owners Association (SRBLTOA) in Chennai on Wednesday midnight after the second round of talks.“We have called off the indefinite strike that began on March 1. But we did not agree to the offer of `2.50/ km/ton as transportation charges and stuck to our demand of `2.80/km/ton,” president of the association M Ponnambalam said.However, an agreement was reached on the issue of inducting new vehicles.Ponnambalam said that the oil marketing companies had agreed to induct 560 new tankers for transporting cooking gas.Moreover, he said that the State government officials present during the talks had insisted that the operators call off the stir and hold fresh talks to arrive at an acceptable rate.Meanwhile, industry sources said that the operators were forced to withdraw the strike under pressure.“Though they were resolute in going ahead with the stir until their demand was met by the oil companies, some sort of veiled threat from some quarters made them bow down,” the sources added. The bulk LPG tanker operators resorted to the indefinite strike over the issue of finalising renewal of tender agreement for the second time in two months.The transportation charges remained the point of contention between the operators and oil companies.The first round of talks held in Chennai on Saturday last failed to reach any settlement and was followed by the second round on Wednesday.
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