Security forces to be deployed at oil pumps
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 26 2024: CAF&PD Minister L Susindro has announced that security forces would be deployed at oil pumps to address the issue of petrol scarcity which he termed artificial.

It is a matter of grave concern that the State has been facing artificial scarcity of petrol since the last couple of days, he said.

Speaking to media persons at his Khurai residence today, Susindro maintained that there is enough stock of petrol in the State.

He said that many oil pumps are not opening regularly on account of repeated instances of refuelling vehicles without any payment and unbearable monetary demands.

The CAF&PD Minister then appealed to all concerned not to create any kind of disturbances at oil pumps and give up the idea of refuelling without making payments.

Security forces to be deployed at oil pumps

Saying that more and more oil pumps are not opening because of rising cases of refuelling vehicles without payment by some elements, Susindro announced that adequate security forces would be deployed at oil pumps to check such unwanted practices.

Moreover, CAF&PD officials would be stationed at oil pumps to see that petrol and diesel are distributed to the public properly, he said.

The volumes of fuel supplied to ROs would be informed to the public on a daily basis, he said.

Saying that some ROs were not distributing fuel to the public even after receiving fuel supply from the depot, Susindro asked the ROs to stop such practices.

The Government will take up necessary action against the ROs which have not been distributing fuel to the public even after receiving supply from the depot, the CAF&PD Minister warned.

The average daily requirement of petrol in the State is around 298 Kls and the Malom depot released 272 Kls of petrol on August 21, 260 Kls on August 22, 326 Kls on August 23 and 325 Kls on August 24 .

Although no fuel was released on August 25 as it was a Sunday, sufficient volume of fuel were released today too, he said.

He also sought cooperation of all concerned to the Government's efforts to address the issue of artificial petrol scarcity.

Talking about LPG, the CAF&PD Minister claimed that the LPG shortage is not as acute as it is made out to be even though the volume of bulk LPG shipped in to the State has declined recently.

The volume of bulk LPG shipped in to the State declined because of the highway's condition, he said.

Expansion and repair of Imphal-Jiribam highway has been going on.

Cutting of hill slopes or ridges for highway expansion has been triggering frequent landslides thereby affecting shipping of bulk LPG to the State, Susindro further explained.

Another factor for the shortage of LPG is the use of domestic refills at commercial places, he said.

Saying that the department has already set a deadline to stop using domestic LPG refills for commercial purposes, Susindro exuded confidence that LPG shortage can be addressed considerably once people stop using domestic refills for commercial purposes.

He also appealed to all concerned to stop using domestic LPG refills for commercial purposes within the deadline set by the Government.

CAF&PD Director Asem Robertson was also present at the press meet.