State had forgone 3836 MT of LPG
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 03 2018: Although it was not long ago that the State witnessed a chronic problem of LPG shortage, the State had forgone 3836 MT of LPG allocated to the State for the months of November last year to March this year due to inability to transport them.

The total LPG allocation for the State for the five months (November last year to March this year) was 17,993 MT.

Even though IOCL took up due steps to raise the number of bulk TTs so that the whole allocated quantity of LPG could be shipped in to the State, there were certain differences with the State Government which resulted in the loss of 3836 MT of LPG, sources informed.

Nonetheless, the remaining 14,157 MT was shipped in to the State.

Monthly LPG allocation for the State for the month of November last year was 3356 MT but only 2451 MT could be shipped in.

Likewise, only 2822 MT could be shipped in out of 3120 MT allocated for the month of December.

Out of 3909 MT allocated for the month of January this year, 756 MT could not be shipped in.

For February, 1127 MT could not be shipped out of the total allocation of 3864 MT.

For the month of March, the total LPG allocation was 3755 MT but only 2994 MT could be shipped in while 750 MT was left out.

Taking due note of the chronic shortage of LPG in the State, IOCL took up necessary steps to raise the number of bullet TTs adding another 42 TTs to the existing fleet of 152.IOCL issued a gate notice in October last year to induct more bulk TTs.

Against the gate notice for induction of 42 bullet TTs, 22 bullet TTs responded.

In the meantime, a PIL was filed at the High Court of Manipur in connection with the chronic problem of LPG shortage.

Subsequently, IOCL issued another gate notice on April 25 this year for induction of 53 more bullet TTs and its process was completed on May 22.As the term of contract for the 152 bullet TTs which were requisitioned in 2014 for transportation of LPG expired, a fresh tender notice was issued on January 23 this year but the tender process could not be completed till date.

In the meantime, one Th Jiten and 14 others lodged a petition to the Chief Minister seeking the latter's intervention to the effect that due process for the gate notice issued on April 25 is stalled till the tender process of which the notice was issued on January 23 is completed.

The Chief Minister referred the written petition to the Chief Secretary with an instruction to do what is needful but the Chief Secretary handed over the petition to CAF&PD.

Subsequently, CAF&PD Under Secretary sent a letter to the IOC's State Level Coordinator asking the IOC to first complete the process of tender notice issued on January 23 .

As a result, the gate notice for induction of additional 53 bullet TTs was ceased after the whole process had been completed and work order was about to be issued.

Thus all the efforts of the TOCL to ensure timely shipment of LPG to the full allocations were rendered futile, said the sources.

Comment