An LPG shortage looms large over Kerala following interruption in bulk LPG transport from the Mangalore refinery to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) bottling plants in the state, in the wake of the Chala fire tragedy that so far claimed 19 lives.
According to B. Harikumar, president of the Kerala Tanker Lorry Workers Union, following the accident, drivers are reluctant to transport bulk LPG to Kerala, fearing attack by angry public.
“At least 150 tanker lorries used to reach the Udayamperoor plant in Kochi every day with bulk LPG, but their numbers have come down to a trickle in the last several days.”
The IOC meets nearly 70 per cent of LPG requirement in Ernakulam district and the Udayamperoor plant caters to the demands of four surrounding districts as well.
The disruption in LPG movement, however, has not affected the BPCL and HPCL plants as they get supply, mainly from the Kochi refinery.
According to IOC sources, the plant availed additional supply from the Kochi refinery in the last couple of days but this was on a temporary basis as the refinery mainly meets the demand of BPCL and HPCL plants.
Harikumar said IOC plants in Kozhikode, Palakkad and Kollam too were hit by the disruption in the transport of bulk LPG by tankers. However, there was no disruption in the movement of transport of LPG cylinders.