Imphal, January 21 2009: The state has faced artificial shortage of vehicle fuels after the authorities of the oil pumps has stopped procuring the fuel to refill the stock owing to the fear of cutting to the price of the fuel in the market as various news agencies had reported on reduction in price.

Diesel could not be get except in some two or three oil pumps around Imphal but patrol is till available in all pumps.

The oil pump as Khoyathong, Pullokchad and Trilokchand diesel was available till this morning but it was closed down stating that it has no stock.

Regarding the non-availability of the vehicle fuels, an official of the IOC at Chnigmeirong said due to the frequent disturbances on the NH-39, the diesel stock has been reduced to somewhat extend but there is no question not supplying to the distributors.

Oil pumps procured fuels by depositing money in advance but in the last two or three days, the procurement of the diesel had stopped all of a sudden, he said.

No satisfactory reason behind the non-procurement of the fuel could be obtained from the official but indicated that they have suspended as Union ministry has hinted of cutting down of prices of the fuels in the last few days.

If once announced with immediate effect the oil pumps have to cut down the prices which is lead to the loser of huge amount of money.

That may be reason behind the non-procurement of the items, the proprietor of the oil pumps added.

On the other hand an oil tanker driver said that when there is indication of hiking the prices of the fuel, oil pumps attempted to procure and keep stock at the maximum with their best effort and sell it with more profit.

The prevailing attitude of not procuring fuel in fear of loss is not a fare one he observed adding that it's the attitude of doing only with vested interest.

There is the need for finding out a way to check such practice, he suggested.

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