Fuel fiasco : With no accountability, blame game on TDC blames IOC and depot managers
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 15 2010: While blaming depot managers and the IOC for the continued scarcity of petroleum products in the State, the Transporters and Drivers Council has appealed to the BRO to expedite repairing/development work of NH-53 and make the highway traffic worthy before the onset of next rainy season.

Speaking to media persons at their MG Avenue office here today, TDC president H Ranjit reminded that following the decision not to take NH-39, the TDC has been contributing all its efforts in the form of money and man-power towards repairing NH-53 .

He also appealed to the Government not to spare any efforts to make the highway a standard highway with a long term vision.

BLAME GAME : A petrol retail outlet running dry

Stating that he personally visited NH-53 recently to take stock of the condition of the highway, Ranjit conveyed that stones and shingles laid out by the TDC during the last rainy season in the middle of mud and puddles, just to make the highway passable, have consolidated firmly like cement concrete.

Observing that repairing and development work of the highway would be a lot easier now, the TDC president urged the BRO to pay full attention to their assigned task and make the highway an all-weather road before the onset of the next rainy season.

With improvement in the condition of the highway, it takes just about 12/13 hours to reach Imphal from Jiribam.

Earlier the same journey took more than a week.

Saying that the TDC fully supports BRO's engagement in NH-53 development work, Ranjit asserted that there is a requirement to engage more man-power and machinery in addition to the urgent need for filling up and levelling the depressed wheel tracks.

The BRO must change their working style in order to make the highway traffic worthy within the current working season, Ranjit asserted.

Talking about the continued scarcity of petroleum products, particularly petrol and diesel, he said that the same problem is largely due to insincerity and incompetence on the part of depot managers and IOC officials.

"Let the TDC handle the task of transporting fuel oils just for one month.

We would make fuel oils available to the public in abundance and do away with the current queue system", Ranjit said.

Reiterating that the TDC is still opposed to movement of goods carriers on NH 39, Ranjit further appealed to the IOC authority to send oil tankers along NH 53 instead of acting against the wishes and aspirations of the people.

He also appealed to all transporters including oil tankers and LPG bullets to take NH 53 instead of NH 39 .