The supply of goods in Punjab is being affected due to the strike by truck unions, leading to a shortage of petrol and diesel. Truck drivers have protested against the new law related to ‘hit and run’ cases. Observing this, long queues of vehicles are seen at petrol pumps due to fears of fuel running out. People are seen waiting in lines to fill their vehicle tanks. Pump owners have appealed to people to minimize vehicle usage.
Many petrol pumps across the state are running dry, and people are waiting for their turn to avoid trouble in the coming days. Pump operators mentioned that compared to routine, each person is filling more fuel, causing an increase in consumption.
The Indian government recently made several significant changes to the Indian Penal Code by amending the Indian Penal Code from the British era. One of the major changes pertains to deaths in road accidents. The number of deaths due to road accidents in the country has crossed 5 lakhs. Consequently, the provision of punishment for ‘hit and run’ cases has been increased from 2 years to 10 years. In opposition to this, transport organizations across the country have gone on strike.
The Sports Association has completely shut down trucks and tempos across the country, halted private vehicles on the roads, and subjected them to mistreatment. Transport organizations say that after this law, no one in the country will work as a driver in transportation, and if an accident occurs due to fog or other reasons, the driver will face severe penalties. This direct impact of the transport disruption is affecting businesses nationwide. There are 134 transport unions across Punjab that operate more than 70,000 trucks and tempos.”
