PPCM cautions fuel pump owners
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 13, 2013:
Asserting that economic blockades are not always the genesis for scarcity of essential commodities, including petroleum products, in the State but is caused by unfair trade practices, Preservation and Protection Committee (PPCM) cautioned transport fuel retails outlets to ensure that the general public do not suffer any further due to want of petrol/diesel.
Noting that the present case of oil pumps not delivering transport fuel to the people testify monopolistic agenda of the pump owners, PPCM convenor Elangbam Johnson said the fuel crisis is unwarranted as the proposed economic blockade call of ATSUM is yet to commence.
Speaking to newspersons at the Wahengbam Leikai office of the Committee today, Johnson said unfair trade tactics being employed by the fuel retail outlets is not only triggering panic buying and price hike of essential commodities but is also causing serious inconveniences to the poorer section of the society.
Quoting Government officials as saying that the present transport fuel stock in the State will last for more than 10 days, he observed that collective monopoly by the pump owners will impede the State's economy as well as cause hardships to the general public in procuring petrol/diesel for daily usage.
He also stated that only a handful of oil pumps remaining in operation will eventually mean that the public will resort to panic buying and further aggravate the situation.
Joining the media briefing, Committee's Consumer Affairs convenor Sunil Karam declared that PPCM volunteers and officials of department concerned will carry out inspection visits to check stock position of oil pumps.
In case there is any unfair trade practice stringent action would be initiated against the guilty pump owners, he cautioned while opining that recent death of a driver and his assistant cannot be the cause for service cessation by the fuel outlets.