Truckers refuse to transport FCI items from Dimapur
Transport department starts requisition of trucks for FCI
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 06 2011:
Even Though Food Corporation of India (FCI) is trying to keep enough stocks of foodgrains in the state, truckers had refused to transport FCI goods on NH 39 .
A truck driver told Hueiyen Lanpao that truck owners are not willing to ply on NH 39 as various UG outfits including the NSCN(IM) are still imposing heavy "taxes" .
When the state government brought up the matter to the knowledge of the Union Home Ministry, the ministry asked the state transport department to requisition trucks for transporting FCI items from FCI godowns in Dimapur and nearby areas.
Following the MHA's intimation, state transport department started requisitioning trucks.
State government has ensured requisition of at least 500 trucks.
Out of this state Transport Department has requisitioned 168 trucks on December 28, 2010 and requisitioning of another 330 trucks is in progress, an official source said.
On the other hand IOC is also making hectic efforts to replenish its depleted stocks of petroleum products.
An official stock position of petroleum products in the state as on December 28, 2010 revealed petroleum stock at 611 kilolitre which would last for eight days only.
The daily requirement of petrol is 70 KL and the stock capacity in all government oil depots is 1090 KL which is to last for 13 days.
The present stock position of diesel is 1446 KL (for seven days) against the stock capacity of 2780 KL (for 12 days).
Manipur consumes 200 KL diesel a day.
The present stock position of Kerosene is 475 KL which will last for five days against the 2528 KL stock capacity while the daily requirement is 80 KL.
The LPG stock can be replenished upto 441 MT against the actual stock capacity of 600 MT.
The stock will last for eight days estimating the daily requirement at 50 MT.
For the ATF, state has been able to replenish its stock upto 407 KL against the 600 KL capacity stock.
State government continues to monitor daily stock position of these products.
Chief Secretary holds review meetings on the induction of essential commodities/foodgrains/POL products with DGP, officials of consumer affairs, food and public distribution (CAF&PD), Transport, Police, IOC (Indian Oil Corporation), FCI (Food Corporation of India), DCs and SPs of Imphal east and west districts.
Normal procurement of these products are carried out on NH 39, but there is a problem in the movement of oil tankers along NH 53.The stretch of the highway from Jiribam to Noney (approximately 70 km) is still in a deplorable condition.
As per report of IOC, Imphal, transit time for convoys is about four to five days.