IOCL lays down helper mandatory provision
POL transporters told to comply
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 10 2025: Citing a recent directive issued by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), the IOCL Malom Depot has asked all POL transporters to ensure the provision of a helper/cleaner for their respective tanker trucks immediately.

The directive issued by the PNGRB to the IOCL on February 13, 2025 emphasized crucial safety guidelines for road transportation of hazardous petroleum products and it said, "availability of alternate driver/helper should be ensured by entities throughout the duration of the journey.

This should be included in the transportation contract signed between entity and transporter" .

As per the Oil Industry Transport Discipline Guidelines, driving a vehicle without a cleaner/helper constitutes a malpractice and the penalties for such non-compliance are suspension of the TT for one week at the first instance, suspension for three months at the second instance and blacklisting of the TT at the third instance.

The Senior Depot Manager, Malom Depot has also urged all POL transporters to comply with the guidelines without any further delay to avoid potential safety hazards and to ensure smooth and safe operation of transport activities.

Notably, it has been seven days since shipment of fuel to Manipur from loading points located at Silchar, Assam has been suspended.

Citing absence of helper/cleaner in the TTs coming from Manipur, the TTs were not allowed to load fuel at Silchar.

As a result, shipment of fuel from Silchar to Manipur has been suspended from July 4 .

Meanwhile, a notification issued by the Senior Depot Manager, Malom Oil Depot on Wednesday asked the TTs to go for fuel shipment without a helper/cleaner till July 31.Nonetheless, it asked the transporters to arrange for alternate drivers/helpers within the same period (July 31) .

The Senior Depot Manager issued another notification today asking transporters to ensure that all empty TTs join the convoy movement scheduled for July 11 .

Penal action may be initiated if any transporter refuses to comply with the notification.

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