CAF & PD conducts surprise inspection at oil pumps; public urged not to panic over fuel supply

Officials of the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (CAF & PD) Department conducted a surprise inspection at an oil pump in Imphal East district as part of an ongoing drive to check the quality and supply of petroleum products in the state.
The inspection was carried out at an Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) retail outlet owned by Koijam Jiten at Wangkhei Ayangpalli under the supervision of CAF & PD officials led by OSD-POL Haobam Bobby. The exercise was conducted in coordination with officials of IOCL and the Legal Metrology (Weights and Measures) Department.
According to Haobam Bobby, the inspection forms part of a series of surprise checks conducted across oil pumps in the state since January 5 under the direction of the CAF & PD Director. During the drive, inspection teams visited several retail outlets operated by Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Nayara Energy Limited.
Samples of petrol and diesel were collected from various outlets during the inspections and sent to Guwahati for laboratory testing. As part of the final phase of the drive, samples were again collected from the IOCL retail outlet at Wangkhei Ayangpalli and handed over to IOCL State Level Coordinator R.K. Mohen for testing in Guwahati.
Officials said that no irregularities have been detected so far during the inspections. However, the CAF & PD Department will take appropriate action if any discrepancies are found in the laboratory test reports.
Meanwhile, Haobam Bobby appealed to the public not to panic over rumours of a possible shortage of LPG and petroleum products in the state due to the prevailing situation in the Middle East. He assured that there is sufficient stock of LPG and petroleum products in Manipur.
He informed that adequate LPG stock is available at the Sekmai Bottling Plant and sufficient petroleum products are also stored at oil depots in the state. Supplies from outside the state are also continuing without disruption.
The public has been urged not to resort to panic buying as there is currently no shortage of LPG or petroleum products in Manipur, he added.