Manipur likely to face fuel shortage

IMPHAL, Jan 8 :With the Oil Depot located at Chingmei-rong not releasing fuel oils to oil pumps since yesterday following the country-wide strike of the Oil Sector Officers’ Association,the State is likely to face shortage of fuel oils within two/three days.With the officials of the Chingmeirong Oil Depot supporting the ongoing strike of the Oil Sector Officers’ Asso- ciation, all activities at the depot have been suspended since 6 am yesterday. The nationwide strike was launched demanding increment in salaries of oil sector employees. Consequent upon the strike, 29 petrol tankers, 70 diesel tankers and 25 SK Oil tankers have been parking at Chingmeirong Oil Depot since yesterday morning unable to off-load the fuel oils. Incidentally, fuel oils are brought to the depot from refineries located outside the State only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in a week. But with the depot officials abstaining from their duty, indents have not been issued to the oil tankers. As such, tankers are unable to go for fuel transport. As the quantum and frequency of fuel import are lower in Manipur than other States, the country-wide strike is likely to produce more serious repercussions in Manipur.Fuel oils available in oil pumps till today were issued by the oil depot on last Tuesday. As such, most of the oil pumps will run dry within a day or two.Although, fuel oils are not issued to private and Government oil pumps, para-military forces, CRPF and other security forces will be allowed to draw fuel oils from the oil depot tomorrow, informed an official source.