Fuel dealers protest monetary demands
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 01 2024: The Manipur Petroleum Dealers Fraternity (MPDF) staged a sit-in protest 'against unbearable and unending monetary demands' at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai, today.

The protest demonstration was held under the banner "Against the Extremely Unbearable and Unending Monetary Demands' .

MPDF is an apex body of IOCL, BPCL, HPCL and Nayara Energy.

At the site of the protest, one Konthoujam Nilkamal said that bringing petroleum products and other commodities to the State has become a troublesome task due to collection of illegal taxes at multiple points along highway stretches and other issues such as intimidation and firing on transporters.

Fuel dealers protest monetary demands

Transporters usually spend Rs 6,500 to Rs 7,000 every trip on illegal taxes, he said and added that the majority of their earnings are spent on illegal taxes.

Saying that the ordeal of the transporters has worsened due to the situation the State has been witnessing since May 3 last year, he added that the Government has failed to stop unauthorised collection of taxes along the highways.

It seems like Manipur is the only State which doesn't have a Highway Protection Force, Nilkamal added.

Saying that different groups imposing unending monetary demands on petroleum dealers and retail outlets has also become intolerable, he urged the Government to stop the unabated extortion culture.

He also expressed desire for the legislators to adopt a resolution to address the grievances of the petroleum dealers and transporters during the ongoing Assembly session.

Saying that there is great disruption in the sale of fuel after May 3, 2023, Nilkamal added that the demand for money, however, comes from many organisations repeatedly.

He also asked how the dealers will continue to supply petroleum products to the people if the transporters stop taking the highways.