Speaker for punitive action against PCTC
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 24 2018: Speaker Y Khemchand has asked IOC and other authorities concerned to book and take up befitting action against PCTC (oil pump) Khoy among for refilling vehicles with diesel adulterated with kerosene.

Y Khemchand said that he personally found people's suspicion and saying that petrol and diesel were adulterated with kerosene was true.

As PCTC is generally regarded that as one of the best oil pumps in the State, the Assembly Secretariat chose PCTC for refilling vehicles of all MLAs and their escorts.

When the Speaker's driver and escorts went to PCTC to refill their vehicles yesterday, they heard people complaining that their vehicles could not get started after refilling fuel from a particular diesel pump.

After hearing the complaint, the driver and the escorts asked the attendants to refill their vehicles from another pump.

But the attendants refused to switch to another pump contending that the diesel refilled from the particular pump was of the standard density, Y Khemchand told media persons.

But soon after the vehicles were refilled with diesel from the particular pump, the emissions were quite voluminous and the vehicles could not be driven smoothly.

Even as the diesel sample collected from the particular pump reeked of kerosene, it had the same density as diesel, Khemchand said.

He further asserted that there is a big cartel of fuel adulterators who are even adept in making the density of adulterated diesel exactly equal to that of the unadulterated diesel.

The Speaker informed that he caught some attendants of PCTC red-handed when they were drawing up the adulterated diesel from the underground tank of the particular pump to an oil tanker with a view to destroy evidence of fuel adulteration.

On being enquired to the IOC authorities whether fuel from underground tanks can be siphoned off or drawn up without prior permission, he was informed that such activities are not permitted by rules.

Subsequently, the Speaker asked IOC to book PCTC.

The Speaker further informed that he would write to the Union Petroleum Minister about adulteration of fuel in the State.

The Speaker further remarked that the condition of Imphal-Dimapur highway is horrible particularly between Mao Gate and Kanglatongbi.

Khemchand said that he went to Dulajang, Assam by road on January 21 to attend the 56th foundation day of Assam Manipuri Sahitya Parishad.

He remarked that the condition of the highway from Imphal to Kanglatongbi is a little better but volumes of dust wreaks havoc from Kanglatongbi to Mao Gate.

Sections of the highway damaged by land slides have not been fully repaired yet.

Even though some contractors were seen repairing the highway, it is hard to believe that the repairing work can be completed before the onset of next rainy season considering the number of labourers engaged by them.

The Speaker conveyed that he had written to the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways and the Governor to look into the matter and take up necessary action urgently.

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