IMPHAL Jan 31: President of the Transporters and Drivers Council H Ranjit refuted the claim of IOC Marketing Director G C Daga that there is no shortage of fuel in the state.
Talking to media persons at the office of the council, Ranjit stated that the IOC executive arrived in Manipur for one day has totally failed to access the ground reality. “The official is trying to fool the public, the trucks are not provided diesel freely and 176 trucks which left for Jiribam yesterday had only a 110 litres each in the tanks when 210 litres are required for the return trip also. The trucks have to refuel at Cachar oil pumps, we want to know why diesel is not available freely at the oil pumps like petrolâ€, Ranjit said. He alleged that the IOC officials are not stating facts and the transporter’s body strongly condemn it.
Reaffirming the stand of the TDC decision not to ply along NH 39, he stated that the date of completion for making the NH 53 motorable within February by the BRTF is doubtful .He appealed to the visiting Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport Vijay Shiva and chief engineer Satiskumar to look into the matter and take up the necessary actions so that repairs of the highway can be completed before the rainy season starts. Timely completion will ensure that essential supplies reaches the state timely, we just want the road to be motorable and it can be even without the black topping, he said.
He appealed to all transporters to opt for the NH 53 route and not to ply along the NH 39, before exclaiming that less illegal taxes have to be paid on the former route and drivers feel safer on the NH 53. He claimed that the trucks transporting fuel along the NH 39 can ply whichever route they please, as they are solely profit motivated.
Members of the council expressed concern on diesel fuel being freely available at Rs 50/60 per litre when the normal cost at pumps is only Rs 38/litre which is hardly available.
