832 Kl for April allocated

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Apr 11: After the Centre slashed the quota of kerosene for Manipur, 832 kilolitres of the fuel for the month of April has been allocated for sale at fair price shops. The same quantity would be allocated for May and June month, said sources.
It may be noted that the Centre had previously allocated 2720 kilolitres of kerosene for three months, but it has been reduced to 2496 kilolitres (for April, May and June) slashing about 224 kilolitres.
The Centre had reduced the quota  citing improved electrification and enhanced number of LPG connections in Manipur.
Of the total allocated 2496 kilolitres of kerosene for three months (April to June), the Secretariat of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution on April 6 had allocated 1056 kilolitres for distribution in six districts. Another order on the same day had also reserved 1440 kilolitres of kerosene for emergency use in the Directorate pool.
The reserved quantity of 1440 kilolitres includes 150 kilolitres for 60 Assembly Constituencies [2.5 kilolitres per Constituency].
Emergency use for Imphal Municipal Corporation, NCC Unit, local press bodies (prints and electronics media),  destitute homes, retired employees of the State and Central Government and public administration will also be provided from the Directorate Pool.
The reserve quantity of 1440 kilolitres in the Directorate pool will be kept at M/S KPO City Moirangkhom  (312 kilolitres); M/S DSLS Mantripukhri (120kl); M/S ST & Sons Singjamei (180); M/S Joy Enterprises Lamphel (156 kl); M/S T Bhimo Porompat (492kl) and M/S Ema Kerosene Ningthoukhong (180).
Meanwhile, of the total 60 Assembly Constituencies, 20 are hill Constituencies and their allocated kerosene is 50 kilolitres.
While the Indian Oil Corporation Limited bears the charges of ferrying the fuel from Malom oil depot to the nearest oil pumps and licenced dealers, it is not quite clear who will bear the costs for transportation of the fuel in hill areas.
Meanwhile, G Gaingam, convenor of a hill based dealer association said the people in the hill districts are unable to get adequate kerosene since the past four years.
People in the hill districts are living without proper electrification and LPG connections. They depend on kerosene fuel for cooking and other purposes. The reserve in the Directorate pool should be distributed to the dealers in the hill districts, he said.