State to face artificial fuel shortage ?
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 19 2018: Following a proposal by the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) regarding reduction of fuel transportation charge which was met with harsh criticism and disdain by the oil transporters, the State may face an artificial fuel shortage from the next month.

According to a reliable source, the North Eastern Integrated State Office of the IOCL, located at Guwahati, proposed to reduce transport charge by 10 percent, during a tender process in connection with transport contract for carrying fuel from Assam to Manipur.

The source explained that the transport contract for petroleum products, including oil and gas, had expired long back and all this time, with the contract being extended from time to time.

So far the contact has been extended three times (the third extension will expire this month).

Tender for the three year contract was floated separately for LPG and fuel.

The tender for LPG began from February this year and will end tomorrow while the tender for fuel was done front November to December last year, the source informed while adding that it would be announced at the earliest.

The source explained that the transport charge for LPG was increased and additional benefits were provided to the local transporters but when it came to fuel transportation, the IOCL proposed reducing the transport charge thus annoying the State transporters who took part in the bidding process.

The IOCL had even instructed the bidders to inform whether they support reducing the transport charge by 10 percent or not, through e-mail, on or before April 1, it added.

The transporters have been claiming that the conduct of the IOCL borders on threatening the transporters and also seem to have an ulterior motive.

The transporters also feel that reducing the transport charge by 10 percent would make it even lower than the rate which was agreed back in 2011 .

If the situation does not improve and the tender is left to continue as it is, transporters of the State will stop fuel transport, the source explained and added that this will lead to a shortage of petrol, diesel and kerosene from the month of May in the State.

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