Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 09 2010:
Members of the All Manipur Petroleum Products Transporters' Association held a meeting at Hotel Imphal today and resolved to cease fuel transportation service from January 1 .
Speaking to The Sangai Express, president of the association H Tikendrajit said that the association resolved to cease service as the current transportation rate is too low thereby causing big financial losses to the transporters.
He said that there is a big gap between the transportation charge given by FCI for transportation of goods from Dimapur to Imphal and the transportation charge given by the IOC to fuel tankers.
Saying that the transporters are aware of the problems of fuel scarcity being faced by the people, Tikendrajit said that the transporters are compelled to cease service as they are suffering big financial losses on every trip.
The agreement signed by the Govt of Manipur, IOC and the transporters was extended till December 30 according to a mutual understanding among the parties involved.
As per the agreement, the State Govt should add Rs 5000 and the IOC 15 per cent to the current transportation rate.
Even after these increments, the transporters were still incurring financial losses.
Taking these losses into account, the association appealed to the IOC for 30 pc increment.
However, the Government's assurance of increasing the transport rate by Rs 5000 each has not been paid.
In view of the scheduled cessation of transport service from January 1, the association is working hard that oil tankers do not remain diverted outside the State.
The association is also making maximum efforts to ferry as much fuel oils as possible before January 1 .
Notably, 25 oil tankers arrived today.
Earlier, only 15/16 oil tankers could reach Imphal on a normal day, Tikendrajit said.
On the other hand, the IOC has initiated tender process for selection of transporters to ferry fuel oils till Imphal.
According to the manager of Chingmeirong oil depot, tender forms would be issued till January 2.The tender forms would be closed and sealed on January 3 and the same would be opened at Guwahati on the next day.