IOC boosts J&K staff morale
New Delhi   13-Oct-2016

For their contribution in maintaining the supply lines during times of unrest in the Kashmir Valley, IndianOil felicitated its employees at Srinagar (Zeewan Depot). The workers in the valley ensured that LPG continues to light stoves in every kitchen of Kashmir and no flights, trains, trucks or buses are stranded for want of fuel.

“At a time when Kashmir valley is grappling with restrictions, curfews and lockdowns for past three months, IndianOil team including our dealers and distributors in J&K state are working day and night to ensure fuel supplies against all odds to the summer capital,” commented BS Canth, Director (Marketing) while praising the efforts.

Since July 2016, the LPG distributor's showrooms, retail outlets, tank trucks, pump attendants, delivery staff and delivery vehicles have been facing the wrath of protestors. Fuel retail outlets, tank trucks and delivery men are being pelted with stones leading to heavy damages. Truck Crew/Delivery Staff and pump attendants of most of our resellers have been beaten up and their trucks badly damaged. Some escaped with a few broken bones, while others were not as lucky, and landed up in hospital, battling for their lives. A few trucks crashed in an attempt to escape stone pelting, causing near-fatal injuries to drivers and cleaners. Many incidents were reported by our resellers in districts of Srinagar, Kupwara, Shopian, Budgam, Anantnag & Pulwama.

To compound the issues being faced by the Oil Companies, this led to a protest and indefinite strike by the Drivers & Cleaners Union and Tanker Association. The Union refused to permit its members to carry POL products to the Kashmir Valley without 100% security and safety arrangements to ensure their safe movement.

The State Government, however stepped in and played a constructive role by giving compensation to the injured oil company employees, contract labour and tank-truck drivers/cleaners. Also, to ensure their safety, a Standard Operating Procedure blueprint was drawn up for tank trucks traversing the valley, in close coordination with government officials, Drivers and Cleaners Union and Tanker and Dealer Association.

Another challenge before IndianOil through this mayhem was the target of completing the Advance Winter Stocking on schedule. IndianOil stocks up sufficient POL products for the inhospitable Leh & Ladakh region to meet its requirements through the snow-bound winters. This has to be achieved during the brief window between May - October, after which roads are inaccessible. To its credit IndianOil is well on schedule having completed till date, around 90% of the product movement despite the odds.