Imphal, June 09: With several oil tankers still stranded at places beyond Manipur due to the indefinite economic blockade imposed by All Tribal Students Union Manipur, petrol and diesel reserve at the Chingmeirong depot is rapidly declining and within 2/3 days the State is likely to face acute shortage of the essential fuel.

According to information provided by the depot sources, petrol stock checked today morning is about 755 kilolitres, diesel 1971 kilolitres and kerosene 1439.While the petrol and diesel stock will not last longer than 2/3 days, the available kerosene quantity may last for around ten days, informed the source.

As the oil tankers are easy targets for bandh supporters All Manipur Petroleum Tanker Drivers' Union has ceased ferrying fuel at the only transportable route, National Highway 39 since June 2.To assess the fuel stock position personally, Marketing Officer of Guwahati's Assam Oil Division, Saikia has arrived at Imphal today and soon after held extensive talks with Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and high ranking police officials.

Similarly, a meeting was also held between representatives of the oil tanker driver's union and FCS Minister Ph Parijat to discuss the prevailing impasse on the national highways.

During the meeting, the Minister reportedly urged the oil tanker drivers to resume service under additional security arrangement failing which State Government will engage security force drivers to bring back the stranded oil tankers to Imphal.

However, with the drivers' representatives insisting on deployment of road opening party (ROP) along the sensitive NH zone from Mao till Motbung the meeting ended without any amicable agreement.

When the Union president Y Bhupenchandra Ghosh was asked to comment on the Government move of engaging security drivers, he said the State authorities would have to bear all responsibility for any damages inflicted on the vehicles.

Asserting that oil tanker drivers are trained personnel to face incidents like outbreak of fire, the president stated that being a heavy vehicle driver of security force does not qualify them (security drivers) to handle the oil tankers and the proposed measure is akin to violating relevant regulations of oil tanker service.

Informing that 109 oil tankers are still stranded at Assam's Saramati area, Bhupenchandra said as the students have threatened to burn down oil tankers in case the blockade is violated the Union drivers are reluctant to take the wheel of the vehicles.

Stating that oil tanker drivers are willing to take to the wheels if the State Government provides Road Opening Party along the highway where well armed outfits dominate Bhupendchandra also said the driver's reluctance should not be construed as agitating against the Govt.Rather than make the tanker drivers a sitting target for the blockade supporters it would be more positive if the Govt end the impasse through an amicable settlement with the student agitators, he mooted.

Meanwhile, Additional DGP Y Joykumar informed to The Sangai Express of bringing back the stranded oil tankers tomorrow with adequate security escorts as well as providing ROP duty along the NH.

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