Govt confident oil strike will end today

Petrol pumps across the country are going dry with the truckers strike entering the third day. The meeting between striking members of the oil public sector undertakings and the Petroleum Ministry has ended inconclusively. In Delhi, 85% of the pumps went without petrol and diesel, while in Mumbai up to 60% outlets put up no stock signboards. As per the latest updates, government is confident that the oil strike will be broken within next six to twelve hours. All oil companies will work on Saturday-Sunday and oil supply situation will normalise across country by Monday. Mathura, Panipat, Chennai oil refineries will be functional within next few hours. Only Barauni , Haldia refinery will take more time to open. Police is visiting homes of striking staffers to ask them to return to work, avoiding large scale arrest. Territorial army is also invoked to control strike. Resolution is still awaited and some development is expected by early evening. Commenting on the oil crisis in the country, Home Minister P Chidambaram who cancelled his visit to Washington where he was to present evidence on the Mumbai attacks said he is ready to meet the Oil Minister. “The problem lies with IOC, ONGC and GAIL. It is most likely that BPCL will function normally. BPCL is operating at 70% and HPCL is functionally normally.” On the strike by truckers, Chidambaram clarified that steps are being taken by the Secretary of road transport and issues regarding service tax are resolved. Oil Minister Murli Deora said, "We have informed the Cabinet about the situation. We have also requested them to withdraw the strike as it is of no good to anyone. The strike is not in the interest of the country and they should withdraw it as soon as possible."