Bus owners question sudden depletion of fuel stock
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 16 2019:
The All Manipur Bus Owners' Welfare Union (AMBOWU) has questioned the sudden depletion of petrol and diesel stocks in the State within a few days, citing that authorities concerned at the IOCL's Malom Depot had claimed of having two/three months stock in the past.
The union has also cautioned that meagre allocation/supply of diesel for passenger buses in the State may soon bring the same public transportation system to a grinding halt while demanding the State Government to increase the ration of diesel for buses.
Speaking to media persons at Thoubal Bus Parking, Nityaipat Chuthek this afternoon, AMBOWU co-convener Brama-charimayum Dhanabir Sharma informed that the State Government has notified yesterday that diesel for Rs 1000 will be provided per bus in a day.
Further stating that the quantity of diesel rationed for buses by the State Government is only around 15 litres in a day, the co-convener continued that the actual requirements for buses operating along different routes varies from 50 to 60 litres of diesel in a day.
He asserted that the meagre supply of diesel for buses by the State Government has created serious difficulties for buses operating along different inter-district routes in the State as well as school buses.
It is not possible for buses to render public transportation service with the meagre supply/allocation of diesel by the authorities concerned as it is very less than the actual daily consumption/requirement.
As such, if the State Government does not consider the inconveniences faced by owners and drivers of the buses while catering transportation service at the earliest, the bus owners and drivers may be compelled to stop their transportation services, he added.
Asserting that CAF&PD Department has now claimed of having petrol and diesel stocks for just a few days although the IOCL authorities at Malom depot in the past had claimed of having petrol and diesel stocks for 2/3 months, the co-convener questioned the sudden depletion of petrol and diesel stocks from 2/3 months to just a few days within a few days.