Open sale of fuel to come into force with immediate effect : Erabot
Days of 'license raj' in fuel allotment over, rationing revoked
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 10 2010: Apart from confirmation by the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister that open sale of transport fuel would resume with immediate effect, a Government order issued today has announced that the rationing system of petroleum products have been revoked.

The Government order, issued by Under Secretary (CAF&PD) N Pratap Singh stated that taking into account the improving stock position of POL products particularly petrol, diesel and LPG, subsequent to the deployment of dedicated CRPF security convoy by the Ministry of Homes Affairs, Govt of India and the State Government 'the Governor is pleased to revoke the system of rationing of POL products enforced by the this Government since April 26'.

A queue at a petrol pump during the days of the rationing system, which may be revoked soon

The order put the current petrol stock at 921 kilolitres against the capacity of 2780 kl which would last 13 days and stock of 2220 kl of diesel against the capacity of 2780 kl estimated to last for 11 days.

The Government will continue to monitor the daily stock position of MS, HSD and LPG, and may invoke the rationing system as and when the same is felt necessary in public interest as the stock position has to be sustained by consistent induction of POL products regularly, the order added.

The order further stated that reservation of 25 LPG filled cylinders by all Imphal-based LPG dealers in a month would continue to meet demands of Ministers/MLAs/VIPs/senior Govt officers etc.

The Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Y Erabot also confirmed that retail outlets would be allocated transport fuel in sufficient quantity so as to resume open sale of petrol and diesel with immediate effect.

When intimated that an Indian Oil Corporation source has informed about storage tanks at its Ching-meirong depot already reaching maximum capacity, the Minister responded in the affirmative saying that there would be no problem in commencing open sale at retail outlets.

Some NRL outlets have already begun open sale from today.

As had been reported some days back in The Sangai Express that there is strong possibility of open sale of transport fuel, the IOC source confided that the only impediment concerns official consent on the allocation to retail outlets.

Due to constant transportation of petrol and diesel inspite of the ongoing 20 days economic blockade called by the United Naga Council in pursuit of various demands, the Indian Oil Corporation depot at Chingmeirong is informed to have neared its maximum storage capacity.

As per information received from the IOC source this evening, the Chingmeirong depot has at present stock of 814 kilolitre of petrol and 2545 kl diesel in addition to 550 kl kerosine.

The source confided that remaining vacant space of the depot's storage tanks could handle only about 20 petrol tankers and half the number of diesel tankers.

Significantly, there are about 70 fuel tankers on the way to Imphal and these vehicles are likely to arrive either late tonight (August 10) or tomorrow morning.

As the storage capacity would be over many of these tankers cannot off-load the fuel, the source added.

Meanwhile, an IOC team has arrived here this morning and soon after arrival inspected operation and distribution modalities of the Chingmeirong depot.

The IOC team headed by its Executive Director (Retail sale) HS Bedi also include General Manager of Corporation's North Eastern Integrated State Office A Pandian and Chief Manager (Retail Sales) D Bharali.

After from the IOC team members having held a meeting with officials of IOC Imphal Division on the operation and distribution system, they also called on the Chief Secretary at about 2.30 pm today.

It is informed that the IOC team conveyed to the Chief Secretary regarding improved fuel stock position at the Chingmeirong depot and suggested that procedural measures be initiated to enable retail outlets resume open sale of petrol and diesel.

Later in the evening, the IOC team was involved in a meeting with retail outlet distributors at Hotel Classic with the deliberation centering on the Indian Oil Policy.