Sack OSD, demands Transporters and Drivers' Council(TDC)
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 04 2011: Amid the crisis created by the shortage of fuel, Transporters and Drivers' Council (TDC) has accused Officer on special (OSD) of Consumer Affairs, food and Public Distribution (CAF&PD) RK Binoy of having a hand in the shortage of diesel by conniving with black marketeers.

TDC has also asserted that truckers engaged by the Food corporation of India will neither refill tanks nor ship rice/sugar until and unless RK Binoy has been removed from the said post.

speaking to newspersons at the MG Avenue office of TDC this evening, TDC president H Ranjit alleged that RK Binoy has been exercising powers conferred on his position as OSD to siphon off diesel to the black market thereby benefiting a handful of authorised as well as unauthorised traders while the general public suffer.

Informing that in every trip FCI-engaged trucks comprise of 300-400 vehicles, Ranjit contended that ahead of tomorrow's scheduled departure these vehicles were supposed to refill their tanks today.

However till about 4 pm today the OSD denied refilling permission to the truckers with the assertion that security escort party has not been finalised, said the TDC president who charged the OSD of giving more priority to transport fuel at the cost of the staple food item.

Reiterating his allegation that the OSD is responsible for causing fuel shortage in the State, Ranjit also drew the attention of the Minister concerned to replace RK Binoy with a Commissioner or Secretary level official so that current malpractices in the allocation of petrol/diesel could be effectively checked.

Referring to report that 12 kilolitres diesel allocated to K Nilo Oil Pump, Langjing on November 2 was exhausted even before departure of the vehicle convoy, the TDC functionary demanded a detailed report on the matter from the OSD.

He also demanded a similar report from RK Binoy on how 6 kilolitre diesel allocated to PCTC, Khoyathong on October 29 has been exhausted after only 17 diesel-run vehicles had refuelled from the said pump.

Ranjit further wondered as to why LPG Bullet and oil tankers leaving Manipur had to be provided about 350 litres of diesel inspite of the fact that these vehicles could have smoothly reached Silchar with only about 100 litres.

The sudden exhaustion of diesel allocations along with excess allocation to LPG and oil tankers is clearly an indication of the OSD facilitating the black-marketers, and boosting profit of authorised as well as unauthorised dealers/traders, he expressed.

Ranjit also demanded a clarification which particular project is meant by the allocation of diesel on 'time-bound' basis and suspected that under the pretext of time-bound project allocation the general public is being deprived of their share.

The TDC president also held the IOC authorities equally responsible for the shortage of petroleum products in the State with the reminder that bringing in petroleum products and ensuring availability of the same is the overall responsibility of the IOC.

Stating that 300-400 trucks had been joining every trip under security escort, Ranjit insisted that there should no outstanding problem for the oil tankers or LPG carriers to ensure adequate stock.

A Public Interest Litigation would be filed against the IOC, he affirmed.

Meanwhile, information has been received that on account of law and order compulsion, the departure of goods carriers has been postponed to November 7 instead of tomorrow.

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