Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 06 2010:
Transport of petroleum products including petrol, diesel and kerosene into Manipur has been stopped as the Nagaland Government has not provided security escorts after Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA) imposed bandh and economic blockade along the National Highway 39 .
According to sources from IOC Depot here at Imphal, the possibility of most retail outlets in Manipur running dry within the next couple of days is very high as transport of petroleum products has been stopped.
Informing that in a week for lifting the petroleum products the Government of Manipur provides security escort to oil tankers upto Mao on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the source explained that from Mao it is the responsibility of the Nagaland Government to escort the oil tankers upto Khatkhati and back.
After the loaded oil tankers were escorted back to Mao, the escort part from Manipur brought back the oil tankers to Imphal.
Inspite of the SDSA-sponsored bandh and the follow up economic blockade along the National Highway 39, escort party from Manipur has been taking the oil tankers upto Mao for lifting the fuel from Khatkhati.
However, as the escort party from Nagaland has not come to pick them up from Khatkhati, the Imphal bound loaded oil tankers have been stranded at Khatkhati.
Interacting with The Sangai Express, an IOC official conveyed that as of now there is no alarm over shortage of fuel.
But if the loaded oil tankers continue to remain stranded, its impact would be surely felt very soon.
In connection with allowing filling of fuel in jerrycan at some retail outlets (petrol pumps), the official pointed out that retail outlets should issue fuel only to the vehicles.
Allowing filling of fuel in jerrycan can lead not only to leakage of fuel but also help in siphoning through black market.
Interestingly, the Government of Manipur has been caught unaware of the Imphal-bound loaded oil tankers being stranded along the way as its Nagaland counterpart has not provided the required escort.
When contacted, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Y Erabot maintained that he did not know anything about this as he was in Delhi for a long time.
Stating that 'it is our goods, so we should escort them', the Minister observed that Nagaland Government arranges escort for the oil tankers of Manipur following an agreement.
Assuring that he would look into the matter, Erabot added that as a Minister he would try his level best to ensure the loaded oil tankers are brought back.