Amid graft slur, open sale of fuel on the cards
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 08 2010: Though there are strong suspicions and apprehensions about corrupt deals being the decisive factor in the allocation of fuel to retail outlets, on the brighter side there is a strong likelihood that open sale of fuel will be resumed sooner than later.

A reliable source, interacting with The Sangai Express said that sustained efforts by the State Government and equally robust commitment by central and State security forces have led to such a situation that the Indian Oil Corporation depot at Chingmeirong has enough stock to resume open sale.

an informed source said the IOC depot at Chingmeirong has storage capacity of 1090 kilolitre petrol stock and 2800 kilolitre diesel.

Closed outlet due to non-availability of fuel, while women sell them in the black market-File pic

At present the depot capacity is said to have neared the 80 percent mark and as such there should be no procedural hiccups for open sale at retail outlets as many fuel tankers are still on their way to Imphal, the source confided.

CRPF personnel are engaged in escorting goods carriers including fuel and LPG tankers along the National Highway-39 as transportation of essential commodities through NH-53 remains inadequate due to dilapidated condition of the Imphal-Jiribam route.

Meanwhile amid shortage of fuel in the State caused by frequent disruption to vehicular movement on both the National highways, there is strong speculation of favouritism in the allocation of petrol and diesel to retail outlets.

This comes with a price.

An official source, speaking on condition of anonymity reminded that Indian Oil Corporation tankers are confined to the Khuman Lampak campus of 2nd IRB after their arrival from oil refinery centres.

These filled-tankers are then allocated to retail outlets only with the approval of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (CAF&PD) on rationing system.

It is during the allocation procedures when under-the-table deals are allegedly struck as representatives of retail outlets approach the fuel issuing authorities.

Even though the source declined to mention direct involvement of CAF&PD officials or close aides of the authority concerned are approached for favourable allocation, it is said that at an average Rs 4000-5000 change hands for allotment of 12 kilolitre diesel while for petrol of the same quantity the amount varies from Rs 7000-8000 .

Elaborating, the source said that some outlets whose record of sale to the general consumers, even before the fuel shortage gripped the State, was practically non-existent or minimal used to figure regularly among the retail outlets when the rationing system came into practice.

The source further contended that a retail outlet gains a profit/commission of about Rs 7000 from the sale of 12 kilolitre diesel whereas for petrol the income is about Rs 10,000 .

The commission is then shared on 50-50 basis between the retail outlet and the allocation authority.

When CAF&PD Minister Y Erabot was contacted on the matter, he asserted that appropriate punitive action would be initiated in case the allegations could be proved.

The Minister also demanded that statements or documentary evidence be handed over to him to identify the retail outlets as well as the officials, if any, so that the guilty ones face the consequences.