IMPHAL, March 16: The Hydrocarbon Vision for North East 2030 initiated by the Centre envisages a pipeline being laid from Guwahati to Silchar to Imphal to ensure a steady supply of petroleum products in the State,.
In an official letter directed to the State Chief Minister seeking his cooperation in the project, BJP MP and Manipur in charge Prahlad Patel has said that a letter from Minister of State (IC) Petroleum & Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan quotes that a new terminal of Indian Oil Corporation Limited is under construction in Imphal for matching the demand for petroleum products in the State.
He said the said depo can mitigate the product availability crisis when a blockade or a landslide occurs in the State, since this depo will act as a buffer feeder for the State.
According to another source, the said terminal will initially be road-fed and will be subsequently be upgraded to being rail-fed, once rail connectivity reaches Imphal. It is also said that the IOCL has made a request to the State government for acquisition of 9.2 acres of land for rail connectivity along the terminal boundary.
The MP in his letter has also said that the existing depo of Ramnagar in Silchar will be connected to rail feed supply which will enhance the availability of petroleum products at the depo and the area.
He also said that the MoS has informed in his letter that the ministry is working a program of Hydrocarbon Vision for the entire NE by 2030 which envisages a pipeline from Guwahati to Silchar to Imphal which on being laid will further enhance reliability of petroleum products supply.