Night unloading introduced at Sekmai plant
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 22 2016 :
Unloading of LPG from bullet tankers during night has been introduced at Sekmai LPG Bottling Plant.
According to the IOC's Imphal Divisional Retail Sales Office, State Level Coordinator, Nagpur based Petroleum Explosive Standard Organisation (PESO) has given green signal to unloading of LPG from bullet tankers at Sekmai bottling plant during night too with effect from today.
Earlier, unloading of LPG at the bottling plant was restricted to day time.
However, in view of acute shortage of LPG supply in the State, PESO gave its approval to allow bullet tankers to unload LPG at the bottling plant at night too.
As such, unloading of LPG from bullet tankers at night would be introduced at Sekmai bottling plant from tonight.
Moreover, bullet tankers from Manipur have been given the privilege of prompt LPG loading at Guwahati, Numaligarh and other LPG loading stations of Assam since a few days back.
In sync with the privilege of priority loading given to bullet tankers from Manipur, loaded bullet tankers would empty their loads at Sekmai bottling plant as soon as they reach the plant and they would promptly head for their respective loading stations together with CRPF escorts.
The new initiative of allowing loaded bullet tankers to unload during night was taken up with the main objective of enabling bullet tankers move with CRPF escorts at the optimum level, informed an official source.
Earlier, when the unloading activity was restricted to day time, only 15 to 18 bullet tankers could be unloaded in a day.
With the permission for unloading during night already obtained, it is expected that 30 to 36 bullet tankers can be unloaded in a day.
Unloading both during day and night would certainly enhance frequency of bullet tankers' trips.
This, in turn, would raise the stock of LPG availability at Sekmai bottling plant.
One fundamental factor for LPG shortage in Manipur is disturbances in the process of transportation.
IOC has taken up all possible measures to address the chronic issue of LPG shortage in the State.
The total storage capacity of Sekmai LPG Bottling Plant is 1800 MT and it comprises of four storage tanks of 150 MT each and two storage tanks 600 MT each.
Priority loading at the loading stations of Assam and prompt unloading at Sekmai would certainly enhance the quantum and frequency of LPG supply to consumers of the State.
All the efforts of the IOC would prove futile if there is not enough cooperation and support from transporters, distributors and the Government, said the IOC official.