Oil pumps set Dec 28 deadline

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 21: The Manipur Petroleum Dealers Fraternity (MPDF) has categorically stated that oil pumps will shut down operations if the State authority fails to initiate positive actions within one week or by December 28.
Even as news of the petrol pumps likely to shut down after December 28 did the round, people resorted to panic buying with many thronging the pumps late into the night today.
A press release issued by the MPDF has decried that there has been no positive response or action to the memorandum it submitted to the Governor on Dec 10, 2025 regarding persistent bomb threats, extortions.
These threats and unlawful demands continue un- abated, posing serious risks to life and property, it said.
The MPDF said they are left with no alternative but to shut oil pumps until adequate protection, interven- tion and resolution are ensured. Petrol pump dealers function solely as authorised agents of the Government, mandated to sell petroleum products at fixed Government-approved rate.
Dealers have no authority to alter prices and are legally bound to collect Value Added Tax (VAT) on behalf of the State Government at the rates of Rs 19.56 per litre on petrol (25 per cent) and Rs 10.11 per litre on diesel (13.5 per cent) which directly contributes to the State’s revenue.
Unlike other essential commodities, the retail selling price (MRP) of petro- leum products cannot be artificially inflated to recover illegal demands from the public, it said.
At present, petrol pump dealers are caught in an extremely critical situation where the sustainability and functioning of their business have become nearly impossible. On one hand, compliance with illegal demands exposes dealers to summons and punitive action by State authorities, including the threat of invocation of NSA.
On the other hand, refusal to comply has resulted in bomb threats and direct threats to life, it said.
“The Manipur Petroleum Dealers Fraternity deeply regrets that the closure of petrol pumps will cause inconveniences to the general public. However, we earnestly appeal to the people of Manipur to understand and extend their support, as dealers are currently standing at a life and death crossroads,” it added.