ICHAM decries irregularities in petrol distribution

Information Centre for Hill Areas Manipur (ICHAM) has alleged the state government that only 51% of the fuels are distributed to the public while 49% are kept reserved for the government. Speaking to the media persons at ICHAM office, North AOC, N Rajendra, President of ICHAM said ICHAM decries irregularities in petrol distribution that ICHAM have been checking the stocks of the petroleum products at almost all the oil depot since January 30, 2017 to ensure regular distribution to the consumers but it is very unfortunate that only 51% are distributed to the people of the state while 49% has been reserved for the government. This is an attempt to gain political advantage in view of the coming assembly election, he alleged. Rajendra also said that representatives of ICHAM has met with the State Chief Secretary yesterday regarding the distribution of petroleum products and to cancel the 49% reserved for the government so that consumers could get more than 51% and 10% of allocation could be increase from the present allocation as queues at oil depot has become lesser and lesser day by day compared to the last few months after the economic blockade. Later a memorandum was also submitted to the Chief Secretary and assured ICHAM to discuss the matter with minister concern. If the minister concern kept on talking advantage with the coming election instead of cancelling the reserved percentage of the government, ICHAM has prepared to lodge complains to the Election Commission of India (ECI) in the next 2/3 days, Rajendra asserts. Rajendra further said that the problem facing by the consumers could be solve if all the 500 oil tankers of IOC are put into service instead of 350 oil tankers. Petrol for 7 days and diesel for 8 days are remains in IOC depot, he added. Meanwhile, today also members of ICHAM made a surprise visit to some of the oil depot in the state to check the availability of petroleum products