Imphal, December 22 2010: At the proposal of the State Government, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has taken up steps to set up a Rail Fed Depot at Malom that would have the capacity of stocking petroleum products for 90 days, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Y Erabot informed the House during question hour session of the Assembly today.

MLA Dr Ng Bijoy and MLA Bijoy Koijam charged that artificial shortage of petroleum products has been created in the State and even if PDS items like Kerosene, rice, etc are not made available in other Assembly Constituencies, the same are being provided abundantly in Wangkhei Assembly Constituency.

MLA Ng Bijoy demanded to know the measures being taken up by the Government to overcome problem of alleged artificial scarcity of petrol, diesel and kerosene in the State.

MLA Bijoy Koijam pointed out that monthly Kerosene quota provided to the MLAs has not been received for the last 5/6 months.

Even though Kerosene is not available in most Assembly Constituency, there is adequate supply in Wangkhei Constituency.

Hence, everyone is heading to Wangkhei Constituency to get Kerosene these days, he added.

In response, Minister Erabot informed that the State Government has proposed for increasing the storage capacity of petroleum products for 90 days.

Accordingly, IOC has started taking up steps for setting up a rail fed depot at Malom which would have the capacity of storing petroleum products for 90 days.

The Minister asserted that shortage of PDS items including petroleum products in Manipur is on account prolonged blockade imposed along both the National Highways, landslides and law and order problem.

As IOC has not been able to transport petroleum products, 10,444 kilolitres of Kerosene which is supposed to be received as quota for the month of October has not been provided, the Minister clarified.

Reacting to the charges of people heading to Wangkhei AC for getting rice and kerosene which are allegedly being supplied abundantly, the Minister demanded that relevant documents be provided and assured that he would initiate action.

In response to a question by MLA N Mangi, Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing informed the House that under RGGVY scheme, rural electrification has been started in eight village areas of Bishnupur district.

Out of these eight, three villages have already been provided electricity.

Supplementing the Power Minister, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh said that implementation of the scheme which is a flagship programme of the Government of India is being targeted for completion by March next year.

Almost all the materials required for implementation of the scheme have arrived and the same are being kept inside Kangla.

Under this scheme, BPL families in villages which have not less than 100 households would be provided electricity connection free of cost.

The CM also assured that necessary instruction would be given to the implementing agencies for expediting the scheme.

To a question raised by Opposition leader Radhabinod Koijam, Transport Minister L Jayantakumar said Nagaland Govt provided the land measuring 4.241 acres at Dimapur, which used to be the complex of MSRTC, to Govt of Manipur in 1969.Land tax was paid till 2006 and there are 12 quarters and six godowns inside the complex.

But Dimapur DC is found to have allotted the land in favour of seven individuals including a Meitei.

So, a Ministerial team including himself had recently gone to inspect the site and hold talks with the Chief Minister of Nagaland in this regard.

The Nagaland CM has also assured that the land in question has been exchanged between the two neighbouring States and the same could not be allotted to any private individuals, the Minister said.

Furthermore, Nagaland Govt has requested for continued payment of land tax and has taken a decision to evict the encroachers from within the MSRTC complex, the Minister added.

Comment