Imphal, October 13 2010: Despite petrol and diesel continue to be lifted from Guwahati under CRPF escort, public continue to face shortage of fuel in Manipur even as Kerosene has become a rare commodity.

At this backdrop, Union Home Secretary JK Pillai scheduled to arrive here on October 17 to review the availability of essential commodities among the people of the State.

An official source in the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department said that shortage of petrol and diesel is due to deplorable condition of the road and the restriction imposed on the carrying not more than 9 tonne of goods.

As for shortage of Kerosene, the Government has not given priority to lifting it like petrol or diesel, the source added.

The source further said that earlier 428 tankers were used for lifting fuel from Guwahati, but now only 250 tankers remain after many of the tankers have developed technical snag while many other are undergoing repairing.

This is another factor for inability to lift more fuel and hence its shortage, the source explained.

Nonetheless, the Department has approached the IOC for utilising atleast 350 tankers, the source added.

An IOC official pointed out that after the restriction imposed on lifting more than 9 tonne, 73 oil tankers with capacity for carrying 20 kilolitres have remained stranded and there has been problem in the movement of the oil tankers on account of deplorable condition of the NHs.

Meanwhile, in all 39 oil tankers, 6 bullet tankers and 21 FCI trucks arrived here today under CRPF escort.

Comment