Diesel, petrol stocks almost dry
No public distribution after today
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 05 2011: After the allocation of petrol and diesel today for public distribution tomorrow, there would be no further allocations until the arrival of oil tankers from Jiribam, an IOC official has disclosed.

Talking to Hueiyen Lanpao, the official informed that there is no stock of petrol or diesel for public distribution in the oil depot of IOC at Chingmeirong after oil tankers stopped arriving from Jiribam following breakdown of the bridge at Sadarghat in Silchar and the 3-day total bandh imposed by UNC in Naga-inhabited hill districts.

At present, there are just 241 KL of petrol in the oil depot.

Out of this, around 100 KL is 'death stock', quantity of petrol which could not be drawn up from the oil depot.

The quantity of petrol in the depot which is usable is just 141 KL only and this would be kept reserve for the security forces and other essential services.

As for diesel, there are around 545 KL in the oil depot.

Out of this, 100 KL is 'death stock' and the remaining 445 KL is for essential services.

Which means there is not a single drop of petrol or diesel for public distribution, the official conveyed, adding that nothing could be said with certainty when the next allocation for public distribution would be made until the arrival of oil tankers from Jiribam.

According to another source, following the breakdown of the bridge at Soroghat, Silchar, most of the oil tankers loaded with 12 KL of petrol and diesel have been stranded and unable to reach Jiribam.

However, some oil tankers loaded with 8 KL of fuel have managed to arrive at Jiribam after taking a detour route.

These include six petrol tankers, 14 diesel tankers, four LPG bullets and two kerosene tankers.

In addition, 271 goods laden trucks are currently stationed at Jiribam.

With most drivers not willing to take the wheels, bringing of oil tankers stationed at Jiribam to Imphal would depend on the security measures which are taken up.

The drivers are hesitant of coming to Imphal amid the ongoing bandh as the content being carried are highly inflammable and anything can happen on the way.

Consequently, the government of Manipur is making arrangement of bringing back the stranded oil tankers and other goods laden trucks under security escort only after the UNC-sponsored total bandh is over by midnight tomorrow, the source explained.

Meanwhile, with Assam government suggesting taking another route for the stranded oil tankers as the bridge at Sadarghat would cannot be able to repaired, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh reportedly held a telephonic conversation with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram over the prevailing fuel crisis.

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