The Centre today asked states to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and the National Security Act (NSA) to cripple the “illegal” indefinite strike called by oil PSU officers from Wednesday even as it drew contingency plans to keep plants running and got commitments from private refiners to maintain fuel supplies.
While the state-run oil firms would initiate disciplinary action, including suspensions, states like Assam have started invoking ESMA that may lead to arrest of the ‘adamant’ leaders of oil PSU executives’ union, which has refused to talk to the government on its demand for higher wages.
Simultaneously, companies like ONGC initiated contempt proceedings against its executives, who are part of the Oil Sector Officers Association (OSOA), which has been restrained by the Delhi High Court from going on strike before the next hearing in February.
“I have invited the OSOA leadership for talks and have assured them that a high-level ministers’ committee headed by Home Minister P Chidambaram will give its report on the issues raised in 30 days but they have refused to come,” Petroleum Minister Murli Deora told reporters here.
Indian Oil Corporation chief Sarthak Behuria said aviation services were likely to be affected first because of the strike and arrangements had been made to deploy senior officials at all ATF fuelling facilities in the country.
“We have enough stocks to last 30 days but the problems is delivery,” he said.
To keep refineries and oilfield operations running, Territorial Army was being deployed, while Reliance Industries and Essar Oil had committed to supply petrol, diesel and LPG in case of shortages, Petroleum Secretary RS Pandey said.
He said HPCL officers were not part of the strike and in all likelihood those of Oil India may also not strike work. Executives of BPCL and GAIL have assured that operations would not be impacted.
A strike in the oil sector can bring aviation services to a standstill within minutes and cripple auto and cooking fuel supplies if it lasts for two days.
A home ministry circular of 1982 classified operations in oilfields and refineries, and fuel distribution as ‘essential services’ and a strike in these areas can be dealt with under the National Security Act, 1980.
ONGC Chairman RS Sharma said 90 per cent of the company officers were not likely to go on strike but the 10 per cent striking workforce aggregate to over 2,000, enough to disrupt operations.
The company will start issuing suspension orders against anyone striking work from January 7, while a contempt of court hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.
Pandey said all the grievances of the officers were being addressed to at the highest level and there was a process which has to be followed.
“The committee under the home minister is scheduled to have its first meeting on Wednesday. Chidambaram had a one-and-half hour meeting on the demands of the officers yesterday. What more do you want? We have been working expeditiously,” he said.
The Delhi High Court had stayed a strike in any of the three oil-marketing companies — IOC, BPCL and HPCL — while a similar stay is being sought by gas marketer GAIL India.
The OSOA, led by Amit Kumar, is adamant on the strike despite the group, headed by Home Minister P Chidambaram, agreeing to give it a hearing before finalising its report.
As the ministry talked tough, oil PSU heads like GAIL Chairman UD Choubey appealed to officers against resorting to strike when the nation was faced with a worsening economic crisis and external threats like terrorist attacks.
Deora appealed to OSOA not to strike work as the nation was already undergoing difficult times and a strike in a critical sector like oil could cripple the economy.
