Centre agrees to raise highway improvement fund for Manipur

I mphal, Aug 26: The Centre has agreed to the raising of funds allocation for improvement of national highways in Manipur to Rs. 40 crores from the existing Rs. 13 crores, a report from New Delhi said Tuesday.

Union minister for shipping, road transport and highways Thiru Baalu agreed to the same during a meeting with the state chief minister at New Delhi today to discuss the progress and status of various road sector projects in Manipur, said the source here.

On the request of the state chief minister, Thiru Baalu agreed to raise the allocation of funds for improvement of national highways in the state during 2008-09 to Rs. 40 crores from the existing allocation of Rs. 13 crores, the source added.

The minister also agreed to accord additional sanctions of works for improvement of Imphal-Moreh road (NH-39) of the state and also NH-150 leading to Imphal airport.

Thiru Baalu assured the chief minister that his ministry would also consider other proposals of the state government depending upon the resources etc, the source said.

Manipur chief minister, O Ibobi Singh is currently camping at New Delhi.

Sources here said that he is there to press the Centre as well as Planning Commission of India for early release of the plan outlays for the year 2008-09, most importantly the special plan outlay.

He is accompanied by officials of the state planning department and other concerned and has with him the utilization certificates for the SPA 2007-08 funds utilized by the state government which is behind the non-release of the funds allocated under SPA 2008-09. The planning commission of India had agreed to an outlay of Rs. 550 crores for the state of Manipur.

The state government, with the funds from the Centre, is currently undertaking works for the expansion and improvement of all the three highways - 39, 53 and 150 passing through the state.

While the eviction of encroachers along the Indo-Myanmar section of the NH-39 is in progress, the state Cabinet in a meeting on August 23 approved the expansion of the NH-150 from Imphal to Churachandpur which is around 61 kms in length.

The Cabinet approved expansion of the NH-150 from Keishampat bridge to Churachandpur town to make it 125 feet wide from the current 100 ft and asked the concerned state authorities to take up steps for demarcation of the land and identification of the land to be affected by the expansion.

It also approved the provision for adequate compensation to the affected land holders at the meeting.

Dismantling of structures including a women’s marketplace named Tampha bazar located opposite the Manipur University gate at Canchipur, on the eastern side of the NH-39 from Canchipur bridge to Lilong bridge which were built on encroached public land is currently underway.

The state PWD is demolishing the structures for expansion of the highway as well as for the purposed development of the Maharaja Gambhir Singh samadhi and Leishang Hiden, sources said.

Four-lanning of the Imphal-Mao section of the NH-39 is also under progress at present.

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Despite the Govt announcement that all petrol pumps would be opened, Tuesday many did not do so until afternoon and a bee line

P
anic buying compounding fuel shortage
Despite assurance, many return empty handed
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Aug 26 : Despite the efforts made by the Government to ensure adequate supply of fuel to the people from today, many people had to return home dejected after standing in long queues as the fuel stock in most of the petrol pumps ran out before they could fill their vehicles.
Nonetheless, black marketeers continued to strive compelling the people to spend anywhere between Rs 65 to 70 for one litre of petrol.
Talking to The Sangai Express in connection with the limited stock of fuel in the petrol pumps, staff manning the oil pumps explained that adequate supply of fuel to the people could not be ensured as the Oil Depot at Chingmirong did not provide the fuel quantity required by these petrol pumps.
They informed that the fuel being provided by the Oil Depot to the petrol pumps is on the basis of the fuel lifted by the oil tankers which arrived at Imphal on August 24. After August 24, not more than three/four oil tankers have arrived at Imphal.
Oil pumps have been requesting to issue indent to supply 8 to 12 kilolitres of oil to each of the petrol pumps. But the Oil Depot could not ensure that. This shows that the stock of oil in the Depot too is running low, the staff said, while disclosing that with exception of two-three oil pumps, challans are issued for not more than 4 Kilolitres to other oil pumps.
In such a situation, the stock in the oil pumps which have been issued only 4 kilolitres of fuel run dry within two hours of opening the oil pumps. The culture of panic buying among the people whenever there is an oil crisis in the State has also compounded the matter, they pointed out.
The staff further explained that there are three compartments in an oil tanker of 12 KL capacity. So issuing only 4 KL to an oil pump is like dividing the fuel content from one oil tanker to three oil pumps. Apart from causing some problems in issuing challans for each compartment to three oil pumps, it is also a time consuming process.
Earlier each of the oil pumps was given the whole quantity of the oil from a tanker which is also an all-India norm. However, in case of Manipur, the IOC has given permission to issue challans for parts of the compartment. This creates difficulties to the oil pumps in ensuring timely supply of fuel to the people.
On top of this, there is the problem of scarcity of fuel in the oil pumps even if there is adequate stock in the Depot as adequate quality of the same is not released to the pumps.
On the other hand, to ensure adequate supply of oil to the people from tomorrow, the Oil Depot has reportedly issued 112 KL of petrol to 23 oil pumps till afternoon today.
According to information received by the press, the petrol pumps and the total quantity of fuel issued to them today are Bakliwal Enterprises, North AOC (4 KL); BB & Co, Sangaiprou ( 4 KL); DSLS & Co, Mantripukhri (4 KL); Kanhai & Sons, Thoubal (4 KL); Ksh Beikul Singh, Kakching (4 KL); Manipur Highway Service Station, Khabam (4 KL); Bitesh Gasoline Centre, Bishnupur (4 KL); Ibochou Service Station, Kakwa (4 KL); Imphal Oil Agencies, Chingmeirong (4 KL); Indo-Myanmar Oil Centre, Wangjing (8 KL); Jas Gas Station, Uripok (4 KL); K Nilo Singh, Langjing (8 KL); Khurai Service Station (4 KL); Konsam Oil Services, Langthabal (4 KL); M/s Yumnam Oil Service, Wabagai (4 KL); Nambol Service Centre (4 KL); PCTC, Khuyathong (12 KL); Th Sorojini Devi Filling Station (4 KL); Tiddim Service Station (8 KL); Tuibong Service Station, Churachandpur (4 KL); Tuks & Bons, Hatta (4 KL).
To ensure proper supply of oil to the people tomorrow, six Inspectors of the FCS Department would be deputed to inspect the oil pumps located in and around Imphal. An order has been issued in this regard.

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