Irate oil tankers refuse to offload fuels at IOC depot
Imphal   30-Oct-2010

Adding another problem to the persisting scarcity of petrol and diesel, oil tanker drivers today refused to offload fuel at the depot of the IndianOil at Chingmeirong to register a protest against the attitude of the depot manager towards the drivers.

Reports said that fuel loaded oil tankers which left Khatkati for Imphal at 10 pm on October 28 reached Imphal around 7 pm last night with security escort.

But they were not allowed to offload at the depot.

Further, they were not allowed to park at 2nd IRB complex at Khuman Lampak where they used to waiting for turns to offload.

They had expressed unwillingness to park in front of the Oil Depot at Chingmeirong where there are no proper toilet or other facilities.

According to the drivers, they were escorted by CRPF personnel from Khatkati in Assam to Imphal.

During their to and fro journey, they were not allowed stop at any place even to have meals.

Apart from this CRPF authority always never tell them when they would start their journey.

Besides, when any of the tankers stopped in the way to answer natures's calls, they were scolded, sometimes assaulted.

Further, despite the presence of CRPF escorts, police personnel at a number of check posts on the stretch from Khatkati to Imphal collected money above the normal entry fees.

In such situations, they faced utmost difficulties in going with CRPF escorts, a driver said.

Earlier, facilities like toilets and sleeping places were provided at the Oil Depot while they were waiting for their turn to offload.

But since the coming of a new depot manager, all such facilities were scrapped.

Instead, oil tankers arriving at night were asked to go their homes and to come back the next day to offload, they said.

Their decision to suspend offloading will be for the day only.

After they offloaded tomorrow, drivers will hold a meeting to decide the future course of action.

In the meantime, with the help of police commandos, IOC has started picking up oil tankers to force them unload fuel at the depot, reports said.