Govt's lethargy, ineptness likely to forfeit State's quota of K-Oil
Fuel allocation order issued at nth hour
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 09 2012: Once again the ineptness and sheer apathy of the State Government is likely to force the people and the land face yet another round of K-oil drought.

As things stand, even today, the 'poor man's fuel' is out of the reach of many, thanks to the perpetual absence of the Public Distribution System, leading to the skyrocketing price of the fuel which is used mostly for cooking and lighting up houses.

Talking to The Sangai Express an official source said that for some inexplicable reason, the Consumers Affairs, Food and Public Distribution System issued the allocation notice yesterday to lift the first instalment of K-oil on or before the 10th of this month.

The instalment basis is in line with the decision taken by the Indian Oil Corporation on March 29 this year that the monthly quota of K-Oil for the State should be released in three instalments.

Accordingly, the first instalment of 60 pc should be lifted on or before the 10th of each month, the second instalment of 25 pc should be lifted by the 17th and the third and final instalment of 15 pc by the 25th.

A view of the IOC oil depot at Chingmeirong

As per a notification issued by the Assistant Manager of IOC, the whole quota for the State should be lifted by the 25th of each month and any backlog would lapse.

Despite this lucidly laid down conditions, the CFAPD department has failed to issue the allocation notice on time, leading to apprehensions that the agents concerned may not be able to lift the full quota within the stipulated period, said the source.

The order to lift the first instalment of 60 pc of the State's quota by tomorrow (May 10) was issued only yesterday evening, said the source and added that this has put the agents and the dealers in a quandary.

The phase wise allocation of the State's quota from the oil depot was taken during an all India meeting of the OIL Co-ordination Committee in October, 2000 .

As per the resolutions taken then, the first instalment of 60 pc of K-oil should be lifted from the oil depot on or before the 10th of each month, followed by the second instalment of 25 pc from the 11th till the 17th of each month and the third and final instalment from the 18th till the 25th of each month.

This step was taken up to enable the agents and dealers to lift their share of the fuel from the depot on time and accordingly make it available to the people, said the source.

Moreover reminders have been regularly sent to all the State Governments to issue the allocation order on time.

The source further said that the respective State Governments should be held responsible if the full quota of K-oil is not lifted in case of delay in issuing the allocation order.

As per the allocation order issued yesterday evening, 441 Kl has been earmarked for Imphal West which has nine agencies, 224 Kl for Imphal East which has five agencies, 67 Kl for Jiribam which has two agencies, 314 Kl for Thoubal with six agencies, 194 Kl for Bishnupur for three agencies, 190 Kl for Churachandpur with five agencies, 119 Kl to Senapati with two agencies, 133 Kl to two agencies in Kangpokpi, 125 Kl to two agencies in Ukhrul and 95 Kl to two agencies in Tamenglong.

Moreover there are huge discrepancies/differences in the amount of K-oil allocated to each of the agents/dealers, said the source.

Giving figures, the source said that in Ukhrul district, which has two agencies, one has been allotted 85 Kl while the other's share is only 40.Likewise in Senapati of the two agencies present there one has been allotted 84 Kl while the other has been allotted only 35 Kl .