LPG bottling plant blockade set to linger
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 07 2014:
While price of cooking gas continue to spiral in the black market there is no sign of end to the blockade enforced along the approach road to the Indane Bottling Plant in Sekmai as talks between the agitators and the Government of Manipur held today failed to break the deadlock.
Officials of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) also attended the said meeting.
Under the initiative of Sekmai AC MLA Devendra, representatives of the agitating locals and the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh discussed issues that triggered a blockade on the approach road blockade since May 3 under the aegis of Awang Sekmai Nongthonband Youth Club.
Speaking to mediapersons after the inconclusive dialogue, Club member L Dhana asserted that the road blockade agitation would continue as the Chief Minister could not provide a definite time-frame for commencing road repairing works.
|
Claiming that the CM cited 'nonviable fund position' of the Government for its inability to set a deadline but appealed for withdrawing the agitation with the assurance that road development/repairing work would definitely be undertaken, the member said the CM's position would be discussed in the general body meeting of the Club.
Opining that the yet to be convened meeting is unlikely to decide on calling off the agitation as repeated intimations to the Government for repairing/black-topping continue to be allegedly ignored, he pointed out that road blockade on the approach road the same demand enforced on April 1 was suspended two days later consequent to the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister M Okendra assuring to do the needful leading to signing of a memorandum to understanding.
Despite the agreement there was no sign of road repairing activities thereby compelling the Club to send a reminder on April 12, confided Dhana insisting that failure to repair the approach road which is barely a kilometre long deserve intense form of public movement.
IOC official KI Singh and Bottling Plant Deputy Manager Guite declined to comment on the meeting when newspersons approached them.
Even though the Bottling Plant ceased LPG distribution activity a filled cylinder could be purchased in the black market at around Rs 1100 near the Plant site with the price varying from Rs 1300 to Rs 1500 in Imphal areas.
While the general public suffer and the lucky few could avail filled cylinders at exorbitant rate, information received here suggest that VIPs and top Government officials can possess the essential item by simply writing to distribution agents.
The locals were reportedly agitated as they have were exposed to dust pollution during the dry season and negotiate large potholes during rainfall as frequent plying of LPG carriers has severely damaged the approach road.
With the Bottling Plant not operating nearly 20 LPG bullet tankers are said to be stationed inside the plant campus awaiting unloading procedure even as many other bullet tankers have been parked at safer zone consequent to the road blockade agitation.