Fuel scarcity: Passenger buses, school van services hit
Black marketers thrive; Minister assures reopening of petrol pumps
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 11 2012: Following shutting down of oil pumps in the state after some unknown miscreants set on fire two fuel stations, JnNURM bus services have come to a halt from today even as School Van services and passenger bus services are set to stop service from tomorrow.

Citing unavailability of fuel, All Manipur Bus Owners' Federation (AMBOF) has decided to stop passenger services from Thursday.

Addressing a press meet in this connection at the office of AMBOF, B Dhanabir, Chairman of AMBOF said that the Federation has decided to stop passenger bus service from tomorrow as all the petrol pumps have remained shut down and there is difficulty in arranging the required fuel for continuing normal service.

Cautioning other passenger vehicles against plying by charging higher fare from passengers, Dhanabir said that vehicle owners who go against the decision of AMBOF should themselves be held sole responsibility for any untoward incident in this regard.

On the other hand, some parents who have received information from Van drivers that they would not be able to render school Van Services, are in a fix.

Even though there has been no official announcement from the side of the Association concerned, school education is likely to be hit severely from tomorrow owing to unavailability of petrol.

Scarcity of fuel has also hit the farmers in trying to pump water to irrigate their field as normal monsoon has failed.

Surprisingly, the number of black marketers selling fuel in Singjamei area and other parts of the state has increased significantly with one litre of petrol being sold anywhere between Rs 150 and Rs 200 .

Petrol pumps in Imphal areas have remained closed since yesterday in protest setting on fire two fuel stations by unidentified miscreants the previous night.

The fire incidents took place at Ibochou Services Station at Kakwa Asem Leikai and Imo Filling Station at Singjamei Thokchom Leikai under Singjamei Police Station.

In fact, the two fuel stations have been remaining their shutters down since July 5 after three Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) groups, namely KCP City Meitei, KCP Lamphel and KCP MTF allegedly served demand notes of Rs 10 lakh each.

Owner of a petrol pump, who does not want to disclose his identity, told Hueiyen Lanpao that he wished to stop the business of operating fuel outlet as they are not in the position to meet monetary demand of Rs 10 lakh.

He pointed out that the profit they get is less than Re 1 per petrol litre.

In such situation, it has become an impossible task for the pump owners to continue their services.

Yet government has said nothing, thus forcing the pump owners to shut down their pumps, he lamented.

Meanwhile, when contacted over the phone, CAF&PD Minister Moirangthem Okendro told Hueiyen Lanpao that government is discussing the matter seriously.

Admitting the inconveniences being faced by the people of the state, the Minister informed that a high level meeting has been convened tomorrow afternoon along with the pump owners, government officials concerned and DGP to find out a solution.

Government will do whatever it can to reopen the petrol pumps and provide fuels to the public as soon as possible, the Minister assured.

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