Fuel supply along Imphal-Jiri line falls short of demand, dry spell looms ahead
Choice is a toss up between public and polls
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 31 2011: With the Chingmeirong oil depot unable to hold the required quantity of fuel in stock, the State is facing a very dicey situation.

If fuel is to be reserved for elections, distribution of fuel to the public may be stopped.

And if distribution of fuel to the public should continue, then there is no possibility of reserving fuel for election purposes.

An official source informed that the stocks available in Chingmeirong depot as on December 30 were 478 Kls of petrol and 1000 Kls of diesel.

These stocks would last five days and four days respectively.

Even as the economic blockades imposed by the SHDDC and UNC have been lifted, TT convoys cannot make more than two trips in a week on account of the pathetic condition of Imphal-Jiribam highway.

With the TT convoys unable to make even three trips in a week, the IOC is unable to hold any quantity of fuel in stock.

File picture of a queue at a petrol pump

On the other hand, the Additional Secretary, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution wrote to the IOC Senior Divisional Manager Imphal and the State Level Coordinator on December 19 to reserve adequate quantity of fuel for the election.

The Additional Secretary's letter not only asked that fuel be kept reserved for the ensuing election but also asked to continue distribution of the same to the public.

Even as the quantity of fuel shipped into the State is quite below the required level, petrol and diesel are being distributed continuously to the public.

After the economic blockades have been lifted, the IOC, taking due note of the hardships endured by transporters in transporting petroleum products on Imphal-Jiribam highway, wrote repeatedly to the Government to provide CRPF escorts for transporting petroleum products along Imphal-Dimapur highway.

The Senior Divisional Retail Sales Manager Imphal wrote to the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Director on November 29 and this was followed by another letter written by the IOC General Manager to the State Chief Secretary on December 9 to provide CRPF escorts for transporting fuel on Imphal-Dimapur highway.

Again, the General Manager, North East Integrated State Office and the Senior Divisional Retail Sales Manager wrote to the Chief Secretary on December 26 to provide CRPF escorts mentioning the transporters' intention to take Imphal-Dimapur highway for transporting petroleum products and LPG.

Contrary to the appeals of the IOC officials, IGP (Armed Police/Operations) sent a written intimation to the CAF&PD Additional Director informing that the IOC may take Imphal-Dimapur highway as the economic blockades have been lifted but the Police Department could not provide security escorts.

It also mentioned that security escorts would be provided for convoys going on Imphal-Jiribam highway.

The IGP's letter was also sent to IOC officials.

Taking into account the tricky situation, IOC officials have started discussing whether the fuel oils available in the depot should be distributed to public or reserved for election purposes.

The existing stock position of the fuel oils was discussed in a meeting between the Chief Secretary and the Senior Divisional Retail Sales Manager yesterday but the Chief Secretary ruled out any possibility of providing security escorts for convoys travelling on Imphal-Dimapur highway.

Nevertheless, the Chief Secretary and the Senior Divisional Retail Sales Manager discussed about enhancing the stock position by shipping in greater quantity of fuel oils along Imphal-Jiribam highway, added the source.