The strike called by officials of state-run oil firms has forced the fertilizer unit of Aditya Birla Nuvo Ltd to cease its operations. According to industry sources, fertilizer unit in Uttar Pradesh has been shut down due the unavailability of gas following country-wide strike. The company however clarified that production will be restarted once gas supplies are restored. The unions at the state-runs oil companies went to indefinite strike on January 7 demanding higher pay and perquisites.

 

The country-wide agitation has disrupted gas supplies to several fertilizer units, including Chambal Fertilizers & Chemicals which has also shut down its Rajasthan units temporarily. Apart from these, the strike has caused the unavailability of petrol and diesel. The Indian aviation industry has also been badly hit by the shortage of fuel. The strike has also affected fuel supply to the Indian army as the tankers engaged in supplying fuel to the army bases were reportedly stranded in Ambala.

 

The nation-wide strike involves 55,000 employees from companies such as Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited. With employees on strike, the operations of these organisations are not taking place in full fledged manner. The pump owners fear that if the strike is not lifted within two to three days, then the pumps will be dried up.