Shillong: Meghalaya Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs minister, Comingone Ymbon has asked people of the state not to panic as the state has sufficient stock of petrol and diesel.
The assurance comes in the wake of the North East Petroleum Mazdoor
Union stating that it would go on strike from November 29 against alleged harassment by the police if the matter was not resolved.
A meeting has been called between the members of the North East Petroleum Mazdoor Union and the government at Nongpoh on Wednesday, to resolve the issues.
“We will resolve the issues and there won’t be any breakage of supply,” Ymbon said.
Ymbon said in case the meeting is unfruitful and the strike lasts beyond 2-3 days, the respective Deputy Commissioners will be asked to regulate petrol and diesel supply within their respective jurisdictions.
The North East Petroleum Mazdoor Union had alleged that oil tanker drivers and helpers were subjected to torture in the name of malpractices during a raid carried out by the police from 18th Mile in Ri-Bhoi district since November 24.
Fourteen people were held by Meghalaya police in raids conducted in seven locations along the National Highway 6.
“They forcibly caught some tankers those who were stranded outside the dhaba for fooding at 22 Mile and registering the cases. Next day also the Police personnel detained some loaded tankers without any proper reason,” union general secretary Ramen Das said.
Das said that innocent tanker crews were facing problems and were fearful of loading petroleum products meant for supply to Meghalaya.
“In our opinion on behalf of the workers if any case caught red handed then authority can take action as per laws. We are also cooperating with the authority without any compromise. But in the name of malpractices etc. any innocent persons should not be harassed,” the Union said in a letter to Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister, Comingone Ymbon.
On the other hand, the Shillong Petroleum Dealers Association on Tuesday praised the Meghalaya police for its swift action against those involved in illegal theft of petroleum and adulteration of petrol, diesel and kerosene along the National Highway.
The Shillong Petroleum Dealers Association president Kennedy Cornelius Khyriem also urged the public in Meghalaya not to panic and said that there is ample fuel stocked in the petrol pumps, adding that the government has assured of police escort to oil tankers from Assam to Meghalaya.
