A closed petrol pump with the No petrol sign in Imphal
IMPHAL, Jul 19 : Thanks to the frequent imposition of bandhs, economic blockades, general strikes coupled with the inability of the State Government to provide security escort during such times to transporters, the fuel stock at the IOC depot is running low and most of the petrol depots remained shut today, with the sign ‘No petrol’ adorning almost all the petrol pumps.
Speaking to The Sangai Express an official of the IOC said that if the State Government is able to provide adequate security escorts to oil tankers, the State will not face any problem of fuel shortage.
Transportation of fuel to the State was badly hit due to the bandhs and blockades that were imposed one after the other as well as the bandh imposed at Dimapur on July 7.
On top of this oil tankers did not take the road because the State Government did not provide adequate security escorts during such days, said the official.
Fuel is transported into the State three days every week because the Government is able to provide security escort for only three days in a week, said the official and added that the days are Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
During these three days period, on an average a total of 4800 kilolitres of fuel is brought into the State.
According to information received from the IOC the daily need of diesel is about 125 kilolitres and 65 Kl of petrol. This works out to about 875 Kl of diesel and 455 Kl of petrol needed in a week.
Apart from meeting the fuel demand of the public, the IOC too has to meet the need of the State Government’s GAD, Manipur Police and security forces posted in Manipur, which include the Army, BSF, CRPF and BRTF.
Due to the prevailing law and order situation the State Police Department also needs more fuel now, said the official further.
Further, the IOC has to also set aside certain quantity of fuel to meet any emergency.
Since the Government provides security escort only three days in a week, it is well nigh impossible for the IOC to meet the fuel demands of so many, explained the official.
Unless the Government works out a policy to provide security escort more regularly, Manipur will continue to face periodic shortage of fuel, added the official.
At the moment the storage capacity of the tank at the IOC is 1290 Kl for petrol and 3250 for diesel.
To meet the growing demand of the public, the IOC has already approached the Government to provide more land to set up additional storage tanks, said the official further.
Following the proposal of the IOC, the State Government has been trying to acquire land at Patsoi area.
Since the existing storage capacity is low, the IOC cannot keep aside adequate stock of fuel.
Meanwhile about ten loaded oil tankers arrived at the State yesterday and the pumps have been allotted their quota today.
The pumps given their share today include, Kanhai and Sons, Thoubal (6 Kl), Ksh Beikul, Kakching (6 Kl), BB and Co, Sangaiprou (6 Kl), Krishna Premi, Moirangkhom (3 Kl), Kusum oil pump, Konung Mamang (3 Kl), Bakliwal Enterprises, North AOC (4 KL), Porompat (4 Kl), Eastern Agro, Wangkhei (4 Kl), PG Petroleum, Chingmei-rong, (4 Kl), Yumnam Oil, Wabagai (4 Kl), Khurai oil pump (4 Kl), Heirangoi Service Station (12 Kl), Ibochou Service Station, Kakwa (4 Kl), Jas and Gas (4 Kl), Konsam oil, Langthabal (8 Kl), PCTC North AOC (12 Kl), Sorijini, Khangabok (4 Kl), K Nilo, Patsoi (8 Kl) and Highway Petroleum, Tera (4 Kl).
