Sobhapati Samom
IMPHAL, AUGUST 21
The road blockade on highways in Assam’s Karbi Anglong and Golaghat districts following the escalation of tension in Ralan area in Nagaland – Golaghat district, Assam border has indirectly started to hit the stock position of the petroleum products in Manipur, forcing the fuel outlets to stop distribution of petrol in particular since the last three days.
More than a dozen fuel outlets in and around Imphal have stopped distribution of petrol for the third day.
Stating that they’re not getting their daily quota of 10,000/12000 litres of petrol, an employee of Bakliwal fuel outlet at north AOC said that their outlet got just 5000 litres of petrol against normal quota. It is sold off within 3 hours, he added.As a result, the people of the State have already started feeling the pinch of fuel shortage forcing the Imphalites to buy petrol at Rs 120 a litre in black market.
Manipur requires 70 kl of petrol, 200 kl of diesel and 80 kl of cooking gas daily.
Sources in Imphal claimed that Indian Oil Corporation’s Chingmeirong oil depot has about 10 days stock of petrol, 20 days stock for diesel, 30 days stock for kerosene.
Considering the report of the shortage of fuel stock in the state, the State Government under the directive of state chief secretary, has decided to ferry petroleum products along National Highway 37 also known as Imphal-Jiribam highway.
DGP Manipur Sahid Ahmed chaired a joint meeting of security forces and took a decision in this regard on Wednesday.
The step will be taken up from August 22, sources said. On Wednesday, about 65 oil tankers including 31 carrying petrol reached Imphal.
