Real or Manufactured : Scarcity of Petrol, Cooking Gas and Commodities

K. Zou *

A long queue at PCTC petrol pump following the depleting stock of fuel :: Pix - TSE

APPEAL FOR HARMONY
“Scarcity of Petrol, Cooking Gas and Commodities: Real or Manufactured”

On the onset of the New Year 2012, I virtually appeal to the state government and the entire people of Manipur to shift our attitude of Laissez-Faire Leadership style to a more sensible form of leadership and honesty in whatever capacity we can from this new year.

It is an Irony, that despite unearthing the truth about the extreme shortage of petrol, cooking gas and other commodities in Manipur as reported by Mr. Sreenivasan Jain, special correspondent, ndtv (truth V/s Hype) no action has been taken neither by the government nor the civil societies and the sufferings of the public goes on unabated.

The findings of ndtv special reporter file on 19th Nov 2011 telecasted in the ndtv news channel, grossly contradicts the claims of the government who hold the blockade of the National Highways (NH) as the sole reason for the shortage of Petrol, Cooking Gas etc.

Mr Jain reports that even though there was blockade of both the NH, the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) North East (Guwahati) issue the normal quota of Petrol to the state of Manipur.

Mr Priyobash Dey, GM (ISO) NE, IOC states that the normal supply of petrol for manipur is 2200 kilo litre (KL). IOC issued 2000 KL of petrol in the month of August 2011, 2400KL in the month of September 2011, and 2039 KL for the month of Oct 2011 and so on. If this is true, how can a litre of petrol cost Rs 150/ - to Rs200/-

It is also learnt that as soon as the blockade starts, the government appoint an Office on Special Duty (OSD) to look into the distribution of petrol. As per the statement of one MT Singh, a petrol pump employees in Imphal, the Government Issue only 8 KL of petrol out of the normal supply of 24 KL to petrol pumps.

If there is huge shortage of petrol, who brought such a large quality of petrol to Manipur for selling in Black market, and whether said the shortage of petrol, cooking gas, etc. is “reality or manufactured” nobody knows.

Whereby keeping the public in the dark on whether the confuand the finding of the News channel on the Tv reporter. chaevening of laisew indivilistic This is a virtual appeal to all the people of manipurI would like The problem of fuel scarcity being faced by the people of the state even after lifting of the economic blockade has been created by IOC, H Ranjit, President of Transporters and Drivers Council, has all alleged.

Addressing a press conference at the office of the Council here today, H Ranjit informed that earlier there were around 400 oil tankers in the service for procuring the required fuel for state consumption. But now the number of oil tankers has decreased. As such the people are facing fuel shortage. This is the sole creation of the IOC. The IOC should see to it that all the 400 oil tankers are engaged.

He further said that some of the oil tankers, which are supposed to procure petroleum products from Ramnagar, Silchar are reluctant to go there and instead opt to go to Guwahati since they get more transportation charge. This should also be monitored by IOC. He also said that the number of bullet tankers engaged for procuring LPG (cooking gas) too has decreased. The TDC is ready to provide enough vehicles if only the authorities concerned ask for it.

I appeal to representatives from UCM, ANSAM, KSO etc to find out the truth with Mr Priyobash Dey, General Manger, NE, IOC in the interest of peaceful co-existence in Manipur.

Mr K. Zou
Social worker.