Jiri trip deferred, may set off today
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 08 2015 :
A convoy of empty trucks which was scheduled to leave Imphal for Jiribam today with security escorts has been deferred on account of the 60 hours hill areas bandh called by Churachandpur JAC and the purported reports that vehicles from Manipur were not allowed to cross Silchar.
Two attempts of the Indian Oil Corporation and the State Government to ship in petroleum products along Imphal-Jiribam highway at least for a single trip with a view to ameliorate the growing hardships caused by acute scarcity of petrol and diesel ended in failure.
Arrangements were made to send empty oil tankers and trucks to Jiribam along with security escorts this morning but transporters rejected the Government's plan citing JAC Churachandpur's 60 hours bandh and the reports that trucks from Manipur were not allowed to cross Silchar yesterday.
Meanwhile, out of the 345 Kls of petrol available at IOC's Chingmeirong depot, 15 Kls have been allotted to Bakliwal Enterprises for distribution to school vans and another 5 Kls to the IGP.
Now only 325 Kls of petrol are available in the depot.
All the petrol stocked in tanks could not be drained out completely.
At least 150 Kls should be stocked at tanks permanently.
As such, the total volume of petrol which can be drained out from the depot is only 175 Kls.
Taking serious note of the grim situation, IOC officials held a meeting at the level of the Chief Secretary followed by another meeting at the level of the Chief Minister today.
But both the meetings could not adopt any concrete decision.
Nonetheless, IOC officials conveyed BRTF's assurance to the Chief Minister that the highway repairing work going on at Phesama, Nagaland would be completed in the next couple of days and the highway can be re-opened to heavy vehicles by September 12.This was the only positive information shared at the meetings, informed a source.