Imphal Jul 31 UNA : While almost all the oil pumps remained closed saying stock nil, petrol and diesel were still available in plenty in the grey markets at a price double the actual rate.
\nSince the massive landslide along the Imphal-Dimapur section of national highway in Nagaland on the night of July 12 and 13, Manipur has been facing petroleum products scarcity.
\nOil pumps were remaining close in most of the time citing \u201cstock nil.\u201d
\nBut vehicle fuels (petrol and diesel) were still available in the grey market which was openly appeared near the oil pumps.
\nEven though the actual rate of petrol per litre was a little more than Rs 69 in Imphal, the same is currently selling above Rs 120 in the grey market. Similarly, diesel is also available at double the actual price.
\nNo action was seen taken up against the grey marketers by the police even though they openly sold on the road sides, particularly near the oil pumps.
\nAsserting that the petroleum products scarcity being faced by the people of the state was an artificial one, the Transporters and Drivers Council today alleged that Manipur government lacked taking initiative to coup with the woes facing by the people.
\nTDC president, Ranjit said that artificial scarcity of petroleum products is witnessed in Manipur was due to the lack of sending more oil tankers by IOC in Manipur.
\nHe said that IOC, Imphal branch has over 500 oil tankers to procure petroleum products. Security escort given to oil tankers for once only in a month was responsible for scarcity and could not lift in large numbers.
\nHe further said that due to the land slide at Phesema in Nagaland stranded oil tankers at Khatkati were brought till Jiribam and could reached at Imphal on July 23 last. Those trucks included petrol and LPG which are 103 in number. Only about one hundred oil tankers are used for transporting once in a month and were responsible for scarcity by the general public.
\nHe asked where the remaining tankers had gone<\/p>\n
adding that if 250-300
\noil tankers were used for transporting there would be no question of scarcity of petroleum products in the state.
\nHe alleged that IOC was trying to save around Rs 3000-4000 per turn.
\nTransporters for NH-37 should be appointed by calling tender from transporters. IOC was simply misguiding the state government and TDC could never accept it at any cost, he added.
\nNNN adds leaders of Manipur unit of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) today met IOC Depot Manager,
\nImphal and discussed the current problem of shortage of fuel in the state.
\nBriefing the media at the state BJP office after the meeting with the IOC Manager SI Singh, Northeast in-charge of BJYM P Somorjit informed that nine days of petrol and diesel stock was left with the IOC as of Wednesday.
\nHe said as of Wednesday, 628 kl of petrol and 2578 kl of diesel were in stocked at the IOC Depot, Chingmeirong.
\nH Bijen, general secretary, BJYM, Manipur, L Basanta, media in-charge, Manipur unit of BJP and several volunteers of BJYM were among the team which met the IOC Manager.
\nSomorjit called the current shortage of fuel in the state as \u2018artificial fuel scarcity.\u2019
\nHe said that factors like owning of 30 percent of the oil pumps by private companies such as NRL, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd and Tssar in the state are mainly responsible for unchecked fuel black market in the state.
\nThe state BJYM leader also expressed his suggestion that the state Government should work out a plan for construction of oil pipelines from Assam to Manipur for easy shipping of oil into the state.
\nHe also urged the Government for early completion of the oil depot now under construction at Malom here that has the capacity to stock up to 5, 5, 500 kl of oil.<\/p>\n\n