CAF & PD minister warns retail outlets
Enough fuel stock for a month at Malom: IOC official
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 08 2022: Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution (CAF&PD) minister Leishangthem Susindro has warned that any petrol pump retail outlet in the state which is found taking advantage of the blockade along the national highways and closing down their doors despite having adequate stock of petrol and diesel will have licenses revoked.

Addressing a press meet held at New Secretariat office here on Monday evening, Susindro said that there is ad equate stock of fuel, ATF, rice and other essential items in the state, and as such, there is no need for the people for panic buying.

He then appealed to the people to remain calm and buy only the items they need.

Informing that the state presently has petrol stock for 16 days, diesel stock for 31 days, ATF stock for 14 days and rice and other edibles for over 15 days, the minister assured that the government will never keep the people in distress and as such, urged the people not to be apprehensive.

Susindro then said that license revocation processes will be initiated for those fuel out-lets found suspending service despite having adequate stock of petrol and diesel.

For this, there will be a flying squad of the department and the people may contact the department director (9402881954) or the department official (9863516255), if they suspect the pumps are not operating as per the RUles.

The department will take immediate action on the matter, he conveyed.

Regardless of the minister's assertion, shortage of transport fuel gripped the state as many people thronged petrol pumps on Monday after transportation of fuel into the state stopped following the economic blockade imposed by All Manipur Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) from Friday onwards.

Meanwhile, an Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) official has conveyed that there is still enough fuel stock that would last one month at Ma-lom Depot.

The movement of trucks and goods carriers ceased following the imposition of economic blockade along the national highways (NH-02 and NH-37) by ATSUM over the demand for tabling of The Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the monsoon session of Manipur Legislative Assembly.

As the oil tankers and the goods carriers could not enter the state since Friday, oil pumps operating under NRL, BPCL and HPCL closed down shutters on Sunday, citing lack of fuel.

This caused mass hysteria among the public of possible fuel shortage and lead to long queues at IOC-operated petrol pumps till late Monday evening.

Speaking to The People' Chronicle in this regard, an IOC official informed that no oil was supplied from the oil depot as the weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) was a holiday.

As such, many oil pumps in Manipur under IOC could not supply fuel to the public.

However, the normal supply of fuel resumed from Monday onwards.

Regarding the long queues in front of petrol pumps over fear of shortage, the official conveyed that there is enough stock to last for a month at Malom Oil Depot and there is no shortage of fuel in the state.

All IOC-operated oil pumps will continue to sup ply fuel.

Additionally, around 300 oil tankers are en route to the state, which will further allay all fears of oil shortage.

On the other hand, a retail outlet dealer under NRL, BPCL and HPCL conveyed to this daily that as there is no other oil depot in the state other than that of IOC, the petrol pumps were forced to close down due to non-arrival of oil tankers under the three companies.

Although some of the companies are in the process of setting up their depots in the state, it will take time, the dealer added.

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