Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 12 2008:
DESPITE FCS Minister Y Irabot's assurance that there are enough petrol and diesel in stock to last for ten days in the oil depot at Chingmeirong, public are facing problem of scarcity of the fuels.
Although some oil pumps have collected fuel from the depot for distribution, all but one have not distributed, instead remained closed.
Though the oil pumps remained closed, many women, keeping a number of plastic bottles filled with fuel in front, were seen selling petrol and diesel right near the oil pumps.
In the absence of any authority without seeming to be considering it an obligation and duty to stop individuals selling the fuels in black-market, a horde of black-marketeers have appeared on the roadsides and selling petrol openly as if it was quite a legal business.
Sources from the FCS department informed Hueiyen Lanpao that as usual, some oil pumps were given petrol and diesel today.
Tomorrow also, some other pumps would be given the same.
However, the sources refused to comment on a question why the oil pumps were not opened, could it be because the pumps were selling out the fuel in black -market.
On the other hand, Works Minister K Ranjit has said that the Senapati students who are spear-heading the economic blockade have turned down government's proposals for talks.
He said, representatives of the Senapati students body and truckers' association and the government may sit together for talks in the evening tomorrow.