KSDC bandh : Fuel shortage looms
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 27 2013 : Inspite of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) issuing fuel to retail outlets on a daily basis, reports have been received about acute shortage of petrol and diesel at pumps.

The gravity of the situation is so intense that transport operators as well as security escorts are unable to proceed for procuring essential commodities from outside.

The indefinite public blockade call of Kuki State Demand Committee being enforced in Kuki dominated areas of the State is also hampering movement of vehicles.

According to Transporters and Drivers' Council president H Ranjit cooperation between the Government of Manipur and IOC is the need of the hour to address the situation arising out of fuel shortage.

Suggesting that surprise checks be conducted at fuel outlets to assess the stock position as IOC had been issuing transport fuel on a regular basis, he also drew the attention of officials concerned on the need to investigate source of petrol/diesel in the black market.

Pointing out that minute assessment of fuel provision by the IOC depot to the pumps and collecting information about when the pumps made public sale would not only be able to effectively curb sale of petrol/diesel in the black markets but also trace the sources, Ranjit opined that chronic problem of fuel shortage could be solved in case IOC allows transportation of fuel through the Imphal-Jiribam route rather than the current practice of relying on the Imphal-Dimapur section.

The Council president also proposed that IOC work in public interest rather than sole reliance on earning profit.

further pointing out that IOC falls under essential service category, Ranjit proposed that current practice of the Corporation not issuing petrol/diesel on holidays should be discarded as transport operators and escort convoys face certain inconveniences in shipping in essential goods.

Highlighting that condition of the Imphal-Jiribam route has improved vastly and that the 78-kilometre stretch from Jiribam to Barak is fit enough for black-topping, he also informed that the highway section near Nung Dolan has been widened.

Ranjit, however, stated that the road section from Barak to Kambiron and Kambiron to Nungba still needs improvement as the dust-covered stretch is highly accident prone.

With regard to the upcoming Asian car rally supposed to take the Imphal-Jiribam route, he prevailed upon the Government of Manipur to closely monitor the road development works in order to avert embarrassing situation.

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