Meet on LPG transporters' issues today
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 12 2025: Together with Guwahati based IO-AOD State Office Chief General Manager, a high level meeting would be held tomorrow on the problems faced by bulk LPG transporters.

Apart from representatives of the All Manipur Bulk LPG Transporters Association (AMBTA), the meeting will be attended by State Government officials which would be held Monday evening.

Earlier, a meeting was held at the level of the Chief Secretary on the cease work strike undertaken by AMBTA from January 6 .

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary said that the matter needed threadbare discussion with IOCL officials.

Subsequently, AMBTA suspended their cease work strike for one week.

AMBTA's demands for reimbursement of the loss incurred by LPG bullet tank trucks on transporting LPG on NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam highway) since May 2023 due to the IOCL' failure to revise the transportation charge and the illegal taxes levied on the LPG transporters along the same highway would be deliberated at tomorrow's meeting, sources said.

It is said that AMBTA would resume their cease work strike from January 17 if tomorrow's meeting cannot arrive at any understanding.

On the other hand, tanker trucks transporting petrol and diesel on NH-37 have also been facing the same problems as faced by the LPG transporters.

If IOCL and the Government do not acknowledge their difficulties and take up appropriate measures to address the difficulties, POL transporters may also launch cease work strike, said the sources.

Some POL transporters told The Sangai Express that the transportation charge paid to POL transporters of Manipur is as per the all India rate.

The transportation charge being paid by IOCL to TTs of 12 KL and 14 KL capacities is Rs 8.9105 per Km per Kl if the route is through hilly terrain.

If the route is in a plain area, the transportation charge is Rs 4.65 per Km per Kl .

The total distance of the to and fro journey between IOCL's Malom depot and Moinabon loading point, Silchar (along NH-37) is 529.4 Kms.

Of the total distance of 529.4 Kms, 420 Kms lie in hilly terrain while 109.4 Kms pass through plain area.

The transportation charge paid by IOCL as per the all Indian norm is Rs 50,013.32 for tank trucks of 12 KL and Rs 59,515.68 for tank trucks of 14 Kl.

The rates applied to TTs of 16 Kl, 18 Kl, 19 Kl, 20 Kl and 24 Kl are lower as compared to the rates applied to 12 Kl and 14 Kl capacities.

The POL transporters said that applying the all India rate to Manipur is irrational and unacceptable because NH-37 is extremely bad and vehicles often suffer serious damages.

Second, it takes at least 18 to 20 days for a TT to go to the Silchar loading and come back to Malom depot.

Third, TTs travelling on NH-37 are levied heavy illegal taxes by unlawful groups even though the TTs are escorted by CRPF, they said.

TTs operating in other parts of India do not face such problems of extremely bad highway condition, exorbitant extortion and too many days of journey, the POL transporters said.

IOCL and the Government must certainly be knowing the difficulties faced by TTs on NH-37, they said.

On account of these multiple problems, transporters who purchased tanker trucks with bank loans are unable to pay EMIs.

IOCL and the Government must acknowledge the difficulties faced by POL transporters and take up remedial measures accordingly, they added.

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