IMPHAL| May 5: All Manipur Petroleum Dealers Association, a body of petroleum dealers and oil pump proprietors has strongly reacted against Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (CAFPD) director Yumnam Ranjan for making loose statements to media during his surprise raids at petrol pumps in Imphal west yesterday.
The association demanded clarification from officials by coming Monday or else has warned to launch various forms of agitation.
Association’s Secretary Rajeshwor charged the Director for passing loose comments to media regarding M/s JAS Gas Agency, Uripok and M/s Uripok Energy Station without studying facts and ground realities of the situation what they have encountered during his visit along with enforcement agencies.
He said, the comments of the director have put the oil pumps in bad light. Such surprise raids are welcome but one has to follow guidelines, he added.
Justifying on the display sign ‘Petrol Nil’ at JAS gas agency, the agency dealer, Lairenjam Manoranjan said the matter was misinterpreted.
He said, on May 3, 30 KL was brought from Malom Oil Depot, 10KL to be decanned at Thoubal and another 20 KL for JAS. After unloading at Thoubal it was already late and the quota for JAS was unloaded next day that is, only yesterday morning at around 7.30.
Unloading process takes nearly one hour and the unloaded oil cannot be distributed to public without settling down properly which takes at least 20 to 30 minutes, he added.
He continued that it was the timing between after unloading and settling down, the raid team led by the CAFPD director came to the spot. Regarding statement on M/s Uripok Energy Station, Propreitor of the oil station at Uripok, T Bangkim charged the director for making controversial comment that the diesel was suspected to be adulterated with kerosene oil.
He asked that how such an allegation can be made without conducting laboratory test. He urged not to make such statements without confirmation to the public. He further justified that the station did not stop distributing diesel oil however petrol around 2.4 KL excluding 1KL death stock was kept as reserve quota for certain government department’s emergency.
Source: Imphal Free Press
