Protests erupted across the state as truckers and truck unions staged a strike against the recently passed Hit and Run Law, bringing life to a standstill. The widespread impact was felt in various aspects of daily life, leading to long queues of vehicles and crowds at petrol pumps.
In response to the ongoing strike, several office bearers from different transport unions conveyed that, as a mark of protest, drivers had refused to continue their duties. This resulted in long queues of parked vehicles, leaving petrol pump operators helpless. Private bus operators and auto-rickshaw unions in Haryana also joined the protest against the new law.
The strike compelled motorists to queue up at petrol pumps amid fears that stocks would soon run dry, with truckers abstaining from the roads to protest stricter punishments outlined in the newly passed law on hit and run cases. Private bus operators, along with other commercial vehicles and some auto-rickshaw unions, have also joined the protest, demanding the withdrawal of the new provision. Several pumps along the GT belts reported a shortage of fuel. The Union Territory Chandigarh, a common capital of the twin states, also witnessed panic-buying of fuel.
Information revealed that due to the drivers going on strike, the supply of essentials and food items was affected in many places in the state. While the impact may not be significant at present, a prolonged strike could have widespread repercussions across the state. Additionally, the supply of fruits and vegetables is expected to be affected, as Haryana receives a majority of its vegetable supply from other states.
The number of vehicles from Delhi, Himachal, and other states has witnessed a decrease, affecting the supply of food items, vegetables, and dry fruits from the adjoining Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. If the strike continues, the problem is likely to escalate.
In response to the issue, Jaspal Singh, the President of All India Motor Transport Congress, stated that the government should immediately withdraw this law. He argued that no driver causes any accident intentionally, and the punishments outlined are not practical under any circumstances. Singh emphasized that accidents are not intentional, and drivers often fear being attacked by mobs if they attempt to take injured people to the hospital.
Transporters Union officials revealed that long lines of thousands of vehicles were seen in different districts of the state. The National President of All India Motor Transport Congress, Jaspal, mentioned that thousands of vehicles are jammed in Haryana, with at least 50 thousand vehicles not running due to the strike. Satish Dhawan, Chairman of Delhi Gujarat Fleet Carrier (DGFC), added that there are traffic jams in different districts.
It was also reported that due to the truck drivers going on strike, an acute shortage of cooking gas was experienced in several districts. Dharambir Malik, State President of All India Motor Transport Congress, stated that due to the strike, thousands of trucks are parked in queues after the drivers went on strike. Additionally, the strike led to motorists queuing up at fuel stations in several places and disrupted the oil supply at the Panipat refinery.
According to the Petrol and Diesel Association, there are approximately 3800 petrol pumps in the state. If the drivers’ strike continues for an extended period, there may be an acute shortage of fuel, adding to the woes of the people. As of December 2, fuel stock is available at the pumps for about a week, and reports of petrol pumps being out of stock in some districts have also been confirmed.
According to the information received, about 600 tankers carrying petrol and diesel leave from BPCL and IOCL depots of Panipat Refinery every day, totaling approximately 1 crore 20 lakh litres. Similarly, more than 230 tankers supply 56 lakh liters of petrol and diesel from the depot built in Hisar. It was also revealed that about 400 and 200 tankers depart from Rewari and Faridabad BPCL depots, respectively. Petrol pump operators also have their own tankers that bring petrol and diesel from Panipat Refinery, with 200 to 250 tankers from the refinery currently supplying to petrol pump owners themselves. Even nearby petrol pump operators without their own vehicles are receiving supplies from the tankers of other petrol pump owners.
