Don't shift IOC Divnl Office: AMIRDA
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 24 2021:
The All Manipur IOCL Retail Outlet Dealer's Association (AMIRDA) will launch various forms of protest if the decision to shift the IOC Divisional Office from Imphal to Tezpur (Assam) is not rolled back by December 31.Acting upon reports regarding the decision to shift IOC Divisional Office from Imphal published in The Sangai Express on December 1 and 14, AMIRDA apprised the Chief Minister in a letter that the Divisional Office at Imphal is headed by a State Coordinator and is the only functional office of all retail outlet dealers of the State, that ensures smooth functioning and distribution of petroleum products in the State since early 1990.The Divisional Office at Imphal used to look after Barak Valley, Nagaland, NC Hill, Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram until 1997.The Division Office at Imphal was renamed as Imphal Divisional Retail Sales Office of IOAOD in 2008 and is currently looking after 127 retail outlets of Manipur, AMIRDA added in the letter.
AMIRDA raised concern that the dealers fraternity of the State will be facing lots of hardships in timely resolving the problems if the Divisional Office is shifted as the dealers will be compelled to travel longer distances even for trifling matters.
Normal supply will also be adversely affected which will in turn affect the general public.
As the State is prone to frequent bandh and blockade as well as natural calamities such as landslide, mudslides and rock slides, the absence of a Divisional Office will cause severe hardship to the dealers as well as the general public, AMIRDA added.
Keeping all such things in mind, and the fact that the Government will have communication and controlling problems as the coordinator of this divisional office is the only competent/authorized person to communicate with the Government in times of need, it is of paramount importance that the Chief Minister intervenes and have the decision of the IOAOD Management retracted, AMIRDA said in the letter.