Petrol pumps run dry well ahead of blockade
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 20 2015: Petrol pumps in and around Imphal city have started to run dry though the proposed blockade is yet to start.

People swarmed at all the petrol pumps today to stock up fuel after news of the economic blockade called by the Kuki People Liberation Front/Army (KPLF/KPLA) against the alleged indifferent attitude of the State Government to Kuki issues hit the news-stand today.

The economic blockade is to start from mid-night of 21 and conclude on Oct 31.Following the ten day blockade, an indefinite blockade is set to continue from November 2 if the State Government fails to take up positive action in line with their demands.

Haunted with past memories of scarcity of fuel and other necessary commodities due to frequent economic blockades along the life lines of the State and not ready to buy a litre of petrol at Rs 150 a few days from now, people swarmed at every energy stations in queues to fill their vehicles as the blockade threat from November 2 has an 'indefinite' tag on it.

Customers rushing to a petrol pump before the start of the blockade

Manipur has faced a number of economic blockade called by different ethnic groups, CSOs, UG groups etc in the past.

Even though their demand may be genuine but consequences of economic blockade are clear.

Hindrance to developmental works and the hardships faced by the general public stated Thangboi from Khongsai Veng while talking to The Sangai Express while queuing up at PCTC today.

Thangboi added that the demands should be placed before MLAs of the said areas instead of issuing such a threat as an indefinite blockade from November 2.It will not only deepen the existing gap between the valley and hill people but could incite communal tension between the people, he added.

Rojen, a student of DM College of Arts said that various organizations and CSOs are using the National Highways as their tools to pursue their demands.

Such actions only hamper the education environment indirectly which should not be encouraged.

Meanwhile, a stock report from the Office of the State Level Co-ordinator of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (Indian Oil- AOD SO) stated that the daily requirement of MS (petrol) for the State is 127 KL for IOC and the Imphal Depot located at Chingmeirong has a capacity of 840 KL out of which the IOC has 801 KL at tank and 728 KL stock at standing tankers truck (TT) and it will last for 12 days.

For HSD (diesel) the daily requirement for IOC is 241 KL and the depot has a capacity of 3340 KL.

With IOC the stock of HSD is 3540 KL where 2888 KL is at tank and 652 KL is in standing TTs.

The report suggest that the stock will last for 15 more days.

The daily requirement of SKO (kerosene) is 100 KL for the State from IOC and the Imphal Depot has a stock capacity of 2528 KL.

In hand the IOC has 2722 KL where 1894 KL is in stock at tank and 828 KL in standing TTs where it will last for another 27 days, added the report.

For LPG, IOC requires 88 MT daily and the Bottling Plant located at Sekmai can stock 1800 MT of LPG and IOC has 525.117 MT in stock.

Out of the total stock, 252.117 MT is in stock at tank and 273 MT at standing TTs and it will last for six more days under the daily requirement, the report suggested.

For ATF (aviation turbine fuel) IOC requires 20 KL daily and the stock capacity of ATF at Imphal AFS located at Tulihal is 600 KL and in hand IOC has 475 KL and the ATF will last for another 24 days, added the report from the Office of the State Level Co-ordinator of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (Indian Oil- AOD SO) .

The report added that IOCL loaded TT has been parked at Molom Depot since January 18 of this year and the present capacity of parking is 60 TT.

In the wake of the economic blockade called by the Kuki People Liberation Front/Army (KPLF/KPLA) against the alleged indifferent attitude of the Congress led State Government to Kuki issues, an emergency meeting was conducted today at the office of SDRSM cum SLC Manipur to make contingency plans.

Meanwhile two retail outlets in the Imphal Greater Area have been earmarked for round the clock service, added the report.