Imphal, February 15, 2010: Not-withstanding the Government's arrangement of escorting goods carriers in the face of continuing economic blockade called by the Senapati District Students'Association (SDSA) on NH 39, oil-tankers have stopped ferrying fuel.

Following cessation of service by oil-tankers, there is widespread apprehension that petrol and diesel would not be available in oil-pumps after a few days hence.

State Level Coordinator of Imphal IOC depot informed The Sangai Express that current stock position of petrol would last only 10 days while diesel stock would run dry after seven days.

Most of the oil-tankers have left Imphal even as 150 oil-filled tankers are currently stranded at Khat-khatti.

Security escorts are being provided not only in Manipur but also Nagaland.

But the oil-tankers are putting up at Khatkhatti feeling insecure.

With the stock running low, the depot is unable to meet the demands of oil-pumps.

Oil-pumps are being allotted reduced quantities of petrol and diesel after calculating a day's necessity, the State Coordinator said.

Notwithstanding the fast depleting stock, the depot cannot stop fuel supply to Assam Rifles, CRPF and other paramilitary forces.

The depot is also supplying fuel to the State Home Department, BRO and Government oil-pumps.

The Department of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution issued an order on February 12 prohibiting purchase of fuel-oil in jerry-cans and other containers.

This has created a serious problem to automobile workshops and other small scale industries as they are not allowed to buy fuel in cans or bottles by the Government order.

Telecommunication sector has also been affected by the fuel shortage as transmission towers of cellphone service providers are run by generators for maximum hours in a day.

As such, the Government's order has evoked a serious question whether all those sectors other than vehicles, which require fuel-oil should stand still.

Some oil-pump owners asserted that the Government should ensure that the oil-tankers resume their service and that there is no disturbance to transportation of fuel-oil.

If the oil depot at Chingmeirong is seen as a refinery rather than working to restore normal oil-tanker service, not a single drop of fuel-oil can be observed in the State after a few days, they cautioned.

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