Imphal, November 17 2010: As the state reels from a severe fuel crisis, the blame game also continues.

The Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department is attacking the authority of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) even though IOC is blaming state's oil tankers to be behind the fuel woes of the state.

The state has been reeling under an acute short age of petroleum products like, petrol, diesel and cooking gas for the last many months.

Fuel retail outlets have remained closed for most of time .

Taking advantage of police drives, black marketers are selling petrol and diesel at much higher rates, at the rate of Rs 90 to 100 a litre for petrol, and diesel at the rate of Rs 50 to 60 per litre.

At some places the rates are even higher.

State Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Y Erabot blamed that the fuel crisis is due to IOC authority.

He alleged that they (IOC officials) are not willing to deal with the situation.

Their negligence led to the oil tankers refusal to resume service.

IOC did not revise the transportation fare on time and ill-treated the tanker drivers.

So, only around 60 oil tankers are in service even though above 300 are registered with the IOC, the minister observed.

The bad road condition of NH-39 has also compelled the drivers of oil tankers to refuse resuming service, the minister said adding that resumption of normal supply of fuels in the state will take at least two months.

On the other hand, IOC officials who were summoned by the government to explain the reason behind the short supply of fuels said that among other problems faced in the procurement of petroleum products was the refusal of drivers of oil tankers to report for duty.

Out of around 300 oil tankers procuring petroleum products on a contract basis, only around 60 are in service now.

Besides oil tankers with 20 kilolitre capacity are refused escort by the CRPF personnel on NH-39, they said.

Officials of the IOC including its executive director (marketing division) M Ram and deputy general manager (NE) Sajankumar stationed at Guwahati who were summoned by the government to explain behind the short supply of fuels in the state went back today after noting down the problems in the state.

After attending meetings convened by the state Chief Minister and chief secretary to sort out the problems of the fuel crisis, they also held a separate meeting with state CAF&PD minister this morning before leaving the state capital.

They had assured the minister that they will look into the revision of fare rate of the oil tankers and the procurement of fuels on both the national highways 39 and 53 with security escort to be arranged by the state government.

Manipur DGP was understood to have assured that adequate security escort will be provided to the oil tankers procuring petroleum products on both the highways.

The assurance was made in one of meetings held yesterday at the Chief Minister's secretariat.

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