IOC explains causes of LPG shortage in State
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 16 2012:
While conceding that there had been a crisis regarding shortage of cooking gas (LPG) in Manipur, the Indian Oil Corporation expressed confidence that the problem would be effectively over by February end in case there is no more hindrances to transportation of the essential item.
According to a source in the State unit IOC, movement of LPG tankers on the National Highway 39 route resumed from January 3 onwards before which procuring cooking gas from refineries in Assam was through NH-53 .
Due to long distance, poor road condition and security point of view, LPG input when it was transported through the ImphalJiribam section of NH-53 used to be far less than its demand consequently leading to the LPG crisis in the State, pointed out the source while informing that daily requirement of LPG in Manipur is about 1800 metric tonne per month.
Further highlighting that upto July last the supply was normal but the same got seriously affected from August 2011 onward due to various factors subsequently resulting in acute shortage of the essential item.
It is said that in August last only 698 metric tonne could be brought in to the State out of the total requirement of 1800 MT, with similar reduction also recorded in September (611 MT), October (657 MT) and November (582 MT) .
The supply situation slightly improved in December (1189 MT) and January this year (1276) while upto February 15, 915 metric tonne of LPG could be brought in, maintained the source.
Reiterating that reduction in the supply compared to the quantum of demand had been the chief factor for the cooking gas shortage faced by the people of Manipur, the source also said till February 13, Government of Manipur was in control of the sales and distribution.
the IOC started taking control of sales and distribution of LPG in the State from February 16 on prorate basis, it conveyed and asserted that any excess or shortfall in any market/distributorship will be taken care of in the coming days.
Noting that supply in the current month has been reasonably good and it is continues in similar trend the supply situation will be normal by the end of this month, the source expressed that police and CAF&PD authorities will have to take strong action against black marketers, unauthorised storage of LPG as well as against use of subsidised domestic cylinder for commercial purposes to effectively prevent diversion of domestic cylinders.
Highlighting that IOC official refrains from such enforcement task due to security reasons, the source said Government of India's norms on one domestic LPG connection for one household need to be implemented in Manipur to maintain uniform distribution of LPG.