IMPHAL, February 2: Even though there is enough stock of petroleum products in the state after the Kuki State Demand Committee and the Government brought an understanding and the subsequent lifting of the public blockade in Kuki dominated areas, oil tankers involved in the transportation of petroleum products in the state have decided to stay off the roads.
According to a reliable source, oil tanker drivers while expressing unhappiness and dissatisfaction over the IOC management have decided against going outside the state to fill their tanks with petroleum products for the state.
According to information available with IFP, 65 oil tankers, 16 LPG bullet tankers had arrived at the state capital safely today.
The oil tankers which arrived today included 13 petrol tankers, 30 diesel tankers and 7 SK oil tankers for IOC and 15 diesel and petrol tankers for NRL.
The source continued that the tankers which had just reached Imphal were unhappy after the IOC alloted them timings for distribution of the petroleum products to the oil pumps.
The source further said that the loaded trucks which arrive today were permitted to unload their tanks at the oil pumps from 4pm today by the IOC authorities.
Unloading of oil from an oil tanker at oil pumps takes atleast 3 / 4 hours and by the time the trucks completed the unloading it was already 8/9pm which caused inconveniences for the trucks to return back to the IOC depot and get their indent letters which i necessary to load their tanks again.
The kind of oil and quantity which the oil tanker is to bring in from Assam’s Tinsukia or Numaligar are cited in the indent letter.
Oil cannot be collected without the indent letter.
The tankers rued that the action of the IOC Depot, Imphal in making them supply oil to oil pumps very late has caused them inconveniences in their effort to get indent letters from IOC depot, standing in queues and making efforts to have their entry pass verified by reporting to the CRPF escorts, refuelling of the oil tankers, vehicles check and preparing food, the source said.
In protest against the inconveniences being faced by the oil tanker drivers, drivers did not take the indent letters from IOC depot and consequently all the tankers to be escorted by CRPF personnel will not leave Imphal.
Leaving Imphal late tonight, empty Oil tankers that had already collected their IOC depot indent letters should reach Mao Gate tomorrow morning.
As per the timing allocated by the Nagaland government before the congestion of the traffic, the tankers will have to pass through Kohima town.
The decision of the oil tanker drivers not to collect their indent letters from the IOC depots angered by the IOC’s dealing has led to the stalemate which led to the present situation, wherein the tanker drivers have decided against going outside the state to fill their tanks.