Imphal, August 14 2010: Even as the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has decided to allow oil tankers of Manipur to lift fuel from the Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), considering its shorter distance to Imphal, so as to tide over the shortage of petrol and diesel in the State, the refinery is only allotting reduced quantities of fuel.

Earlier, oil tankers registered under IOC were transporting fuel oils from Tinsukia refinery.

Considering that filling the oil tankers of Manipur at a nearer refinery would help in addressing the shortage of petroleum products in Manipur, the IOC took up necessary measures to allow oil tankers to ferry fuel from NRL, informed a reliable source.

Following the serious humanitarian crisis resulting from acute shortage of essential commodities including petroleum products, the State Government requisitioned a large number of oil tankers and gas bullets and sent them to bring in goods every day with CRPF escorts.

Some drivers of oil tankers who were requisitioned for transportation of fuel said that around 40 to 50 tankers went to NRL to load fuel every day but only 8/9 oil tankers were allowed to fill their tankers.

While less than ten oil tankers from Manipur were allowed to load there, additional number of local oil tankers of Assam were given the privilege of loading fuel, they conveyed.

Despite the efforts of the IOC to redress the issue of fuel oil scarcity of Manipur, the NRL has not been cooperating, the drivers lamented.

Meanwhile, it is reported that the huge trucks having ten wheels are unable to ply along ImphalDimapur highway due to landslide at Zufza.

A police source informed that 27 goods laden trucks, 14 oil tankers and six LPG bullets crossed Mao gate for Imphal this morning.

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