Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 23:
Despite the blockade imposed on the two National Highways by the Apunba Lup to press for the complete revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, the fuel stock remains healthy in the State.
Speaking to The Sangai Express a highly placed source said that though the Apunba Lup has imposed a blockade on the two National Highways, the fuel stock, including petrol, diesel and kerosene is still healthy and there is no need to press the alarm bell.
Even the Ari Turbine fuel stock is healthy, said the source.
On an average, the State needs about 50 kl of petrol and 100 Kl of diesel per day, said the source adding that there is no need for the consumers to panic.
FCS Minister Nagmthang Haokip told The Sangai Express that his Ministry will make sure that fuel is available to the people adding that no efforts will be spared to ensure that the fuel supply gets chocked off.
The FCS Minister further said that the State Government will soon work out a policy to check sale of petrol in the black market and appealed to the people to extend their co-operation.
Meanwhile another source said that the IOC oil depot set up at Chingmeirong in 1985 is today not able to meet the demands of the day.
The source said that the storage tanks were installed with the objective of meeting the fuel demands of the people for only one month.
There is a pressing need to increase the capacity of the storage tanks, said the source adding that so far the Government has not been able to acquire additional plots of land to increase the size of the storage tanks.
This has inevitably resulted in many tankers spending days on the road without delivering the fuel at the depot since the tanks have already been filled up to its capacity, further said the source.
Moreover the number of tankers ferrying fuel from outside the State to Manipur have increased keeping in line with the demands of the day, said the source adding that there is urgent need to increase to storing capacity of the oil depot.