Koijam urges Nayak to look into oil crisis

IMPHAL, March 23: State Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam has requested Union Petroleum Minister Ram Nayak to look into the ongoing petroleum crisis in Manipur following the indefinite strike called by the oil tankers' association. The oil tankers launched their indefinite ceasework strike in protest against the torching down of 15 oil tankers by unidentified gunmen near Kasrong in Senapati district on March 8 last. Replying to a call attention motion raised by the former Chief Minister and solitary Opposition member in the 60-member House of Assembly session on Thursday the Chief Minister Radhabinod said his government is trying to solve the ongoing petroleum crisis by procuring necessary diesel and petrol from Assam. He said the State government is just a consumer of the petroleum products saying "we're not responsible for any liability of damage of oil tankers". He also pointed out that the primary responsibility will be taken care by the Indian Oil Corporation, Assam Oil Division. The Chief Minister informed the House that he had already intimated the current problem to the Union Petroleum Minister besides the newly transferred Food and Civil Supplies Commissioner O Nabakishore has been directed to hold necessary meeting with the IOC officials to chalk out other precautionary plans to supply petroleum products to the general public, Koijam added.