Measures in place to tackle food and oil crisis
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Imphal, September 02 2014: With announcement of indefinite bandh on vehicular movements from September 4 in all Naga inhabited areas covering major portions of National Highway 2 (Imphal-Dimapur) and National Highway 37 (Imphal-Jiribam) by United Naga Council (UNC), a meeting chaired by Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (CAF & PD) Minister M. Okendro was held at the department's office located at Secretariat building here today to tackle the situation.

The meeting reviewed about the existing stock position of food grains and fuel in the FCI/CAF & PD godowns and IOC depots in the state in the presence of Director General of Police (DGP) Shahid Ahmad; P.Vaiphei, L/Commissioner (CAF & PD); M.Yaiskul Meitei, Director (CAF & PD); Thioba, DGM, FAC, Imphal; T.Dharambir, Assistant Manager (IOC), Imphal and Nandababu, Deputy Plant Manager, Sekmai Bottling Plant.

During the discussion, it was stated that stock position of rice at present is 27,388 MTs (estimated to last 55 days), wheat is 3,339 MTs (estimated to last for 90 days) and sugar is 550.975 MTs (estimated to last for only 9 days).

panic over oil scarcity

While on the other hand, petrol stocks available is 1344 KL (estimated to last for 15 days), diesel stock is 3707 KL (estimated to last for 17 days), SK oil stock is 2939 (estimated to last for 33 days) and LPG stock is 619 MT (estimated to last for only 6 days) .

In view of the crisis faced by people of the state, the meeting decided to take up certain line of actions with immediate effect till the bandh is suspended.

It then agreed on allocating to the selected Retail Outlets (ROs) of Imphal East and Imphal West districts with two loads of petrol and diesel (12/20KL each).

Regarding this, the meeting also discussed that the retail outlets may be changed depending on the route and additional allocation of fuels by ROs of NRL.

While on the other hand, the remaining districts would be allocated with one load (12 KL) each of petrol and diesel on every alternate day.

Likewise, LPG allocation by Sekmai Bottling Plant shall be done as far as possible in close co-ordination with Director (CAF & PD) and IPC staffs.

Meanwhile, 1 load of 6 KL petrol (3KL each for the media and police personnel) would be separately allocated to an RO, the meeting resolved.

It also said that police personnel should not come in their service uniforms to collect petrol from the assigned outlets and that their identities would be checked on daily basis.

It then told the shopkeepers and businessmen should not practice black marketing or resort to rising of prices of food and other commodities.

Furthermore, the meeting resolved that police department shall arrange convoy timing at 4 pm to 6 pm specially on September 3 in order that loaded tankers from Khatkhati (Assam) can reach Imphal the next day by 5 pm.

This will be initiated to replenish the stocks of both food grains and oil products in Manipur in view of the blockade starting from 6 am of September 4 .

Moreover, police personnel shall be deployed at each RO where petrol and diesel would be issued to the public for preventing any untoward incident.

It further said that CAF & PD department would immediately control delivery of petrol and diesel by NRL ROs and would also initiate for lifting fuel through Imphal-Jiribam route till the situation is improved.

After the meeting allocation order of petrol and diesel to be distributed on September 3 has also been issued.

This included 12 KL petrol to PCTC RO, 12 KL diesel to Emo filling, 49 (only 12 KL to be delivered) to Khurai station, 12 KH diesel to Porompat station and 6KL (3 KL each for Press and Police personnel) to Tiddim service.