Not all happy with fuel allocation mode
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 09 2014:
A number of fuel retail outlets have openly expressed their resentment against the manner in which the CAF&PD Department has been allocating fuel to different retail outlets.
CAF&PD has been in charge of fuel allocation after it took over the same function from IOC's Imphal Divisional Sales Office.
While the fuel stock is fast depleting after the UNC's blanket ban on vehicular movements on all National Highways and State Highways came into effect since September 4, the Government has so far done nothing to improve the stock position.
Some ROs told The Sangai Express that many ROs have serious grievances against the CAF&PD's mode of fuel allocation and they even sent SMS's to the IOC to leave them out from fuel allocation.
There are 66 ROs of IOC in Manipur.
As per the norms of IOC, fuel allocation is made on the basis of the annual average sales report of each RO.
As such, ROs which recorded greater sale got greater quantities of fuel.
But since the CAF&PD took over the function of fuel allocation, the IOC's norms have been overlooked.
Whereas fuel allocation is made to a few ROs repeatedly, majority of the ROs remain shut.
IOC has already opened 20 Kishan Seva Kendras in the rural areas of the State.
One basic objective of opening Kishan Seva Kendras is to save rural people from spending fuel in going to far off fuel ROs for re-fuelling.
According to the guidelines, Kishan Seva Kendra cannot be opened along or close to National or State Highways.
However, since the CAF&PD Department took over the function of fuel allocation, fuels have been allocated to jus one or two Kishan Seva Kendra(s) while the rest are kept completely dry.
The mode of fuel allocation adopted by the CAF&PD Department not only defies the guidelines but also negates the usual norms.
As announced earlier, a total of 110 empty oil tankers and LPG bullets were mobilized with great efforts to set out for Jiribam this morning but all the efforts went in vain as no security personnel turned up to escort the convoy.
Given this situation, no petroleum products can reach Imphal for the next 10 days, informed a source.