Fresh round of fuel scarcity looms
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 12 2011:
As in the previous years, the State would be facing a major crisis of fuel and LPG shortage, this time because of the indefinite economic blockade and general strike being imposed by the Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) .
It is about a fortnight since transportation of petrol, diesel and LPG to the State stopped.
Moreover, there is no guarantee that any oil tanker or LPG carrier would be arriving at Imphal in the next couple of days.
On the other hand, allegations have come in that Ukhrul district headquarters have not received their share of fuel and all pumps have exhausted their stock since August 9 .
A source from Ukhrul said that on August 10, fuel was supposed to be transported to Ukhrul from the IOC depot at Imphal.
However for reasons that have not been spelt out, no fuel was transported to Ukhrul, though the challans for the same had been issued.
Following the low stock of fuel, Imphal IOC depot has already started rationing fuel at the rate of 4 Kl for each oil pump since August 11 .
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As the oil pumps do not have adequate stock of fuel, most of the oil pumps closed the day's business at 12 O'clock today.
Like in the preceding years, a long serpentine queue of customers was seen this morning in front of PCTC oil pump at Khoyathong.
A similar scene was also witnessed before PG Petroleum, Chingmeirong.
In a joint meeting held between IOC officials, Transport Department officials and officials of CAF&PD on August 10, it was decided that oil tankers and LPG bullets stranded at Khatkhati would take NH 53 to reach Imphal.
But most of the stranded vehicles have not been complying with the joint meeting's decision.
Meanwhile, IOC has threatened to take up punitive actions against the defiant transporters.
Hemraj Sharma who owns largest number of TTs was summoned by the IOC and instructed to bring the stranded tankers on NH 53 in the interest of the public.
A meeting of the transporters was also held this afternoon where it was discussed to bring the stranded oil tankers and LPG bullets on NH 53 .
However, a clear consensus eluded the meeting.
Nevertheless, out of 112 oil tankers and LPG bullets stranded at Khatkhati, around 30 oil tankers left Khatkhati for Jiribam yesterday.
It is reported that some of the oil tankers reached Jiribam today.