IMPHAL, Jun 10 : In an embarrassing revelation, Sekmai bottling plant under Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) apparently failed to supply required LPG in the State for a period of 11 months starting from June last year. However, the bottling plant managed to supply required LPG for the month of April, May and July of last year and April of this year.
IOC, NRL, BPCL and ESSAR companies are supplying petrol and diesel to the public of the State. The quantity of LPG required in the State per month is 2200 metric tonnes.
Talking to The Sangai Express, one of the top officials of Sekmai bottling plant said that failure to supply required LPG in the State is due to volatile law and order situation, frequent imposition of bandh and blockade on National Highways, road block caused by landslide and disturbance from underground militants.
It may be noted here that there was uninterrupted supply of LPG in the State following the mass campaign launched by this daily on LPG distribution in 2015. A strict vigil was kept on transporters, drivers, officials of Sekmai bottling plant and LPG distributors in the wake of the influential campaign.
According to the official, the quantity of LPG supplied by the bottling plant for the month of April, 2016 was 2550.019 metric tonnes, 2369.454 metric tonnes for May, 2076.634 metric tonnes for June, 2540.982 metric tonnes for July, 1976.106 metric tonnes for August, 1935.932 metric tonnes for September, 1810.041 metric tonnes for October, , 1205.865 metric tonnes for November, 1207.890 metric tonnes for December,1729.150 metric tonne for the month of January of this year, 2172.958 metric tonne for February, 1989.132 metric tonne for March, 2643.943 metric tonne for April and 1394.654 metric tonne for May.
The official claimed that the fluctuation in the supply of LPG is due to the law and order situation.
Owing to certain factors, there have been many instances when some LPG bullet tanker drivers refused to engage in LPG distribution, he said. Informing that the number of LPG bullet tankers at present is 150 with around 130 in service, the official pointed out the refusal of LPG bullet tanker drivers affects normal daily supply of LPG.
However, there is no problem in loading LPG at the bottling plant, he added. He made an observation that there will be adequate supply of LPG in the State if the 130 bullet tankers in service go for three/four trips per month on a regular basis.
Source: The Sangai Express
