Imphal, August 25: After about 45 days of rationing petrol and diesel, the State Government is set to restore open sale of the two essential items from tomorrow.

Announcing this, FCS Minister Ngamthang Haokip today said that due to the recent economic blockade imposed by ANSAM the State Government was constrained to resort to rationing of petrol and diesel.

However since the fuel stock has improved appreciably after the blockade was lifted, the same will now be sold in the open at the petrol pumps from tomorrow, he added.

Just as recently as today, people had to queue up over night at petrol pumps to get two litres of petrol for a two wheeler and five litres of petrol for a four wheeler.

The price of petrol in the black market had also touched the Rs 70 mark in some cases.

Ngamthang Haokip said that there is enough stock at the Chingmeirong oil depot to last for nine days while the stock of diesel will last for another 13 days.

Over and above this, 21 petrol tankers and 33 diesel carriers arrived at the State today, he informed.

To make sure that the State does not run out of petrol and diesel, the Commissioner of FCS has written to the Indian Oil Corporation today to do the needful, added the Minister.

The Indian Oil Corporation should bear the responsibility if the State faces another round of fuel scarcity, added Ngamthang Haokip.

All the oil tankers operating in Manipur are not under the control of the FCS but under the IOC, he added.

During the 52 days economic blockade imposed by ANSAM, the State was hit hard by an acute shortage of fuel and the Government had given top most priority to the transportation of fuel.

During any economic blockade imposed on the highways, the supply of fuel, particularly petrol has always been the first to be hit and this time too the people were hit hard.

Re-opening of schools after the summer break was postponed by a few days as vehicles to ferry the school kids could not procure petrol and diesel.

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