State likely to see some more days of petrol pump closure
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 13 2023:
Even as all petrol pumps were shut today against the frequent attacks and intimidations on drivers plying along National Highways, it has become likely that petrol pumps will be closed for more days as the Oil Depot at Malom has stopped supplying petrol and diesel to the retail outlets.
A source at Malom Oil Depot said that they have stopped supplying petrol and diesel to the retail outlets though there is enough stock at the depot of the IOCL due to the protest of tanker truck drivers.
It is reported that most storage tanks of the petrol pumps have been exhausted due to the ongoing protest of the drivers.
The storage tank of Phulchand Trilokchand Filling Station at Khuyathong which is considered as one of the largest in Manipur has also run dry.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, an official of Phulchand Trilokchand Filling Station said that their petrol pump will be closed from tomorrow but some oil pumps may supply diesel to the consumers.
A key member of All Manipur Petroleum Product Transporters Drivers' Association claimed that miscreants demand illegal taxes from drivers while plying along Imphal-Silchar road even under security protection.
He continued that drivers started taking Imphal-Silchar road to transport petroleum products after the violence broke out on May 3 as Imphal-Dimapur line has become unoperational due to security reasons.
Saying that the miscreants at the highway stretch even demand money from empty trucks heading from Imphal, he continued that drivers were forced to pay Rs 200 at Rengpang and Rs 500 at Nungkao from every empty truck as an entry charge initially.
The entry charge has been increased from Rs 200 to Rs 500 at Rengpang and from Rs 500 to Rs 1000 at Nungkao, he said and maintained that another Rs 1000 is being demanded from drivers in between Barak and Sivillong as entry fee.
He went on to state that the charges being levied on loaded trucks is Rs 3,500 .
It however is not known which group has been demanding money from the empty and loaded trucks, he continued and added that the miscreants increase the charges often.
He said that a particular driver was attacked for refusing to pay Rs 1000 on October 9 along Imphal-Silchar road as the charge was increased from Rs 500 to Rs 1000 abruptly.
Saying that All Manipur Petroleum Product Transporters Driver's Association and All Manipur LPG Bulk Transporters' Association have lodged a complaint to the Government over the problems being faced by drivers, he said that a spot enquiry and a combing operation have been conducted by the Government but the same hasn't solved any problem even as the Government had held talks with Zeliangrong Students' Organisation (ZSO) and Zeliangrong Naga People's Organisation (ZNPO) in Imphal on Wednesday.
The drivers get only the transportation charge fixed in 2013 for transporting petroleum products which is quite inadequate, he said and added that the many drivers may quit their jobs if they pay Rs 6,000 for every trip.