CAF&PD Minister assures proper security for oil tankers

IMPHAL, April 26: Due to the recent strike by tanker drivers and the total bandh being imposed along the National Highways there has been some decrease in the fuel stock. However, the IOC oil depot at Chingmeirong has petrol and diesel that will last for 10 days.

This was said by M Okendro, Minister CAF & PD in a press briefing at his office chamber in the New Secretariat here today. The people here had faced a hitch since all the oil tankers were on strike over the abduction of a tanker driver, he said.

A joint meeting was held today with representatives of the Government, the driver union and top CRPF officials during which it was resolved that oil and bullet tankers will be provided with proper security protection while ferrying fuel from Assam’s Khatkhati to Imphal, he said.

The Nagaland government will also be requested to provide security support, the Minister continued.

In such a situation, the political parties/organisations in the state must help and work together, as it would not be the right thing to let the government bear the brunt alone and that mere criticizing would not solve the problem, he continued.

He then appealed the transporters and the people residing along the highways to lend support to the government  initiative.

If the present situation continues for some more days, it would seriously affect the students, the Minister who also holds the Education portfolio said.

Therefore, all must come out and support the government’s effort by taking it to be their own responsibility, he expressed.

All the tanker drivers will resume work and fuel stations will also be reopened from Friday, the Minister assured.

The joint meeting also agreed to conduct routine CRPF ROP patrol along the highways connecting the state to Nagaland and other states, Okendro added.

Besides Okendro, the meeting was attended by SP Singh, IG CRPF Manipur and Nagaland; Ashok Kumar, DIG CRPF Assam, Manipur and Nagaland; and representatives of All Manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor Workers’ Union.