Imphal, Jul 06: With the All Manipur Petroleum Tanker Drivers' Union refusing to take the wheels since July 4 to protest the arrest of two of its colleagues, all the petrol pumps in Imphal have run out of petrol stock and will shut down from tomorrow.

The drivers refused to take the wheels after two of their colleagues were arrested by Imphal East police on the charge that they tried to extort money from the Senior Supervisor of the Assam Oil Division under the IOC at Chingmeirong.

Talking to The Sangai Express a well placed source said that though petrol is still available at the Chingmeirong depot of the AOD, all the petrol pumps have run out of petrol stock as the drivers have refused to lift the fuel from the depot and deposit the same to the pumps.

Only Bakliwal Enterprises of North AOC lifted 12 kilolitres of petrol from the depot today.

To resolve the crisis, FCS Minister Th Debendra and Principal Secretary AE Ahmed are reported to have met the Divisional Manager of the IOC to thrash out a solution.

However on the other hand, the Government has not taken up any immediate steps or worked out a contingency plan to avert fuel shortage in the next few days.

To resolve the impending fuel crisis, the Senior Manager of the IOC, PJ Chetia arrived at Imphal yesterday and immediately held a meeting with the fuel transport contractors.

The transport contractors reportedly conveyed to the IOC officer that they are ready to press their vehicles into service, but with the drivers refusing to take the wheels, the stalemate continues.

The transport contractors are keen on an early resolution of the issue at hand, said the source.

For the record, there are 62 petroleum transport contractors and 300 oil tankers in the State.

At the moment the petrol stock at the AOD depot at Chingmeirong is estimated to last for 12 days while the diesel stock is calculated to last for 16 days.

Apprehensive of yet another round of fuel crisis in the next few days, the oil pump dealers have reportedly asked the IOC Marketing Division to make fuel available to them.

Efforts by The Sangai Express to meet officials of the AOD to get their side of the story proved futile as they refused to meet the press.

Meanwhile the All Manipur Petroleum Tankers Drivers' Union in a statement today said that steps have been taken up to intensify the stir from tomorrow.

The process of lifting fuel at Tinsukia, Numaligarh, Digboi and Gauhati have stopped with the co-operation and help of the Assam Petroleum Mazdoor, said the statement.

Training their guns on the Senior Supervisor, P Borah who is presently the Manager of AOD in charge, the drivers questioned why Borah has till date not discussed the matter with his staff.

The drivers further questioned why Borah has not informed the matter to his superiors at Digboi or Gauhati and added whether the AOD which is under the IOC is the personal fiefdom of Borah.

Extending their gratitude to the DGP and the State police for keeping them informed about the conditions of the two drivers, the Union said that the two were made the scapegoats by Borah due to personal reasons.

The personal enmity arose because of the money demanded by Borah from the drivers from time to time, alleged the statement.

All the drivers were verified by the police before they were authorised to drive the oil tankers, said the statement and added that the accusations levelled by Borah on the two drivers exposes his petty mindset.

The drivers also appealed to all to extend their co-operation to their agitation.

Comment