Employees of public sector oil companies on Monday said they will strike work on Tuesday against the proposed privatisation of cash-rich oil refiner Indian Oil Corp even as government has drawn elaborate contingency plans to avert any supply disruptions.

While oil firms topped up all supply depots and petrol stations to stock 48-hour supply of transport fuels petrol and diesel and cooking fuel LPG and kerosene, the National United Forum Against Privatisation of Oil PSUs rejected an appeal by Petroleum Minister Ram Naik to withdraw the agitation in public interest.

"Over the weekend, oil companies have moved petroleum products to every part of the country and created enough stocks to meet retail needs for the next 48 hours," senior government officials said in New Delhi.

Naik was, however, hopeful that his appeal to employees unions to await the decision of the Supreme Court on divestment of Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd will work. On the other hand, the forum said, "The minister's appeal was a mere sermon and without any specific offer or assurance not to divest/privatise oil PSUs."

"The representatives of the National United Forum Against Privatisation of Oil PSUs have reiterated their earlier decision to observe 24-hour strike against government's decision to divest and eventually privatise oil PSUs," a forum press release said.

"Since Supreme Court is already seized of (privatisation) matter, Government should have appropriately awaited their decision and not decided to divest two oil sector giants IOC and Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC)," it said.