The transporters who engaged their lorries with the LPG bottling plant of IOCL have alleged that the management of the company has awarded the transportation tender to an Andhra Pradesh-based company for ulterior reasons.
Under the banner of the Balasore Packed LPG Transport Owner Association, they alleged in a Press brief that from the current year the company while introduced e-tender for transportation of LPG cylinders, yet it was not given to the local transporters although their bidding was the lowest.
They further alleged that the authorities were gained over by the outside force.
Union adviser, former MLA Arun Dey said the local transporters have been transporting LPG cylinders from the bottling plant ever since the bottling unit in Baleswar was established.
“More than two decades the local transporters have been transporting cylinders from the plant relentlessly and flawlessly without any problem. On an average around 120 lorries find loads daily from the plant at Chhanpur while there are about 180 lorries engaged in the service,” Dey told.
He alleged that the non- awarding of tender would throw them in lurch.
The deprivation would severely affect the livelihood of the transporters as well as their dependents, said Dey.
Another functionary of the association said, “We have vented our concern to all concerned officials including the district Collector and the IOCL authorities, urging them to reconsider the decision. If the authorities don’t address our issue, we will be compelled to take drastic steps.”