Imphal, November 16 2010: While giving reasons behind the short supply of petroleum products in the state as due to refusal by most oil tankers to transport the products, authorities of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) today sought the co-operation of the Manipur government in the effort to resume normal supply of the items.

Officials of the IOC who were summoned by Chief Minister O Ibobi today held two rounds of meeting with the state government officials.

During the meetings, IOC officials were understood to have revealed that they could not replenish petrol and diesel stocks due to transportation problems.

Sources said that in the meeting IOC officials informed that out of 300 oil tankers registered for procuring petrol, diesel and kerosene from the nearest supply point in Assam, 250 of them have refused to join the transportation and sought the help of the state government in persuading these oil tankers to join in the transportation.

Before the meeting with the Chief Minister was convened, the IOC officials attended an official level meeting presided by chief secretary DS Poonia at the conference hall of Old Secretariat block.

IOC's head of executive director (operation) M Ram, deputy general manager Sajankumar, deputy general manager, Guwahati G Anbelagan and general manager A Pandiyam attended the meeting.

From the state government's side, apart from the chief secretary, commissioner of consumer affairs, food and public distribution and other officials concerned attended the meeting.

The meeting convened by the Chief Minister was held at 4pm.It was attended by officials of IOC, chief secretary, DS Poonia, DGP Y Joykumar and CAF&PD commissioner P Vaiphei.

Officials of the IOC while reiterating the poor turn out of registered oil tankers, informed the meeting that only 50 to 60 oil tankers are in service presently.

The reason behind the majority of the oil tankers' refusal to transport as explained by the IOC officials could not be divulged from the source.

However, a highly reliable source said that there was an instance when oil tankers threatened to stop service because IOC authority refused to release the transportation rate which was agreed to in the contract agreement signed with the IOC for procuring petroleum products.

The All Manipur Petroleum Product Transporters Association (AMPPTA) had demanded revision of the POL fare in line with FCI approved rates.

The transporters had said that cost of materials, maintenance costs and operational costs have shot up drastically.

In the meeting with the Chief Minister, IOC officials in Imphal also acknowledged acute depletion in the stock of petroleum products at its Chingmeirong Oil Depots tabling break up of the stock position as Petrol for five days, diesel for two days, LPG for four days and ATF for 12 days.

The source also understood the Chief Minister instructing the IOC to replenish the stock position by any means at the earliest and DGP assured providing adequate security escorts to the oil tankers in procuring petroleum products.

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