Agencies
IMPHAL, OCTOBER 30
Taking a serious note of the fuel crisis gripping Manipur in the backdrop of the 1000-hour bandh in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, the state government has opened two fuel outlets in Imphal with the round-the-clock service from Wednesday.
The government has also ordered action against black marketers.
Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh has urged the Union home ministry to ensure that the bandh in Karbi Anglong does not affect the flow of essential commodities to Manipur.
Till Tuesday evening, one litre of petrol lwas selling at Rs 90 in the grey market as almost all outlets shut down since the bandh came into force on Monday morning.
Following the government’s action, many black marketeers disappeared on Wednesday.
Manipur consumer affairs food and public distribution (CAFPD) minister Moirangthem Okendro on Tuesday convened a meeting with IOC officials and fuel outlet owners to review the scenario at his office.
Stating that there is enough stock of fuel in the IOC depot, Okrendro, who is also the government spokesperson, appealed to people not to resort to panic buying.
Stating that the government is responsible to make essential commodities available to public, the minister said the commodities would be shipped to Manipur by providing dedicated security escorts if necessary.
Sources said a large number of oil tankers with CRPF escorts have left the state to ship in fuel from Assam’s Khatkhati area.
On the other hand, a government order instructed the district magistrates and law-enforcing agencies to take stringent action for curbing hoarding and illegal sale of essential commodities, including petroleum products. It asked the authorities concerned to book the offenders under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980.
