Imphal-Dimapur highway blocked at Jakhama to protest fatal road mishap
Fuel shipment put on hold since Jan 16
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 18 2013:
On account of the blockade on NH 2 (Imphal-Dimapur highway) following the death of a youth in a mishap involving a truck heading for Manipur at Zakhama in Nagaland on January 15, shipment of petrol and diesel into the State has been suspended since last Wednesday.
Local people impounded the truck and handed it over to Zakhama police.
They are now demanding the owner of the truck to come to Zakhama personally.
In the meanwhile, ATSUM has already called a 24 hour bandh starting from this midnight.
Despite the blockade on NH 2 and the 24 hour bandh called by ATSUM, there is adequate quantity of diesel and petrol in stock.
According to IOC officials based at Imphal, the IOC's depot at Chingmeirong is full with diesel and petrol.
In addition, there are 65 standing TTs at Khuman Lampak ISBT awaiting their turn for unloading.
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Yet, as shipment of oil has been suspended, IOC has started supplying petrol and diesel to retail outlets in fixed quantities required in a day.
Earlier ROs were allowed to take as much fuel as they wished.
Average daily requirement of petrol and diesel in the State are 90 Kilolitres and 220 Kls respectively.
There is LPG stock for six days at the Sekmai Bottling Plant, informed the officials.
Whereas the capacity of Sekmai Bottling Plant is 600 metric tonnes, there are 500 metric tonnes of LPG in stock.
Moreover, there are also some standing LPG bullets.
Meanwhile, capacity of the filling point of the bottling plant has been upgraded from 12 to 24.Following the upgradation, the plant is now able to increase it daily supply capacity, added the IOC officials.
On the other hand CAF&PD Minister M Okendro who is also Government spokesman maintained that people need not worry for any possible shortage of essential commodities including fuel oils because of the highway blockade at Zakhama.
The Government of Manipur and the Government of Nagaland have talked about the matter at the level of Chief Secretary.
The Nagaland Chief Secretary was not even aware of the blockade when the matter was first raised.
Nevertheless, as the matter has been already discussed between the two Chief Secretaries, a solution can be expected very soon, Okendro stated.