DC assurance to NE oil dealers

GUWAHATI: The Kamrup (metro) deputy commissioner has asked the North East India Petroleum Dealers’ Association (Greater Guwahati unit) to intimate the district administration before carrying cash to banks during the election period.

Flying squads had on Wednesday seized Rs 25.11 lakh in cash from the proprietor of a oil depot (located at Baihata Chariali) while he was on his way to deposit the amount in a bank in the Noonmati area here on Wednesday, prompting oil depots in the city to contemplate going cashless from Thursday.

The association on Thursday submitted a memorandum in this regard to the Kamrup metro deputy commissioner.

The district administration thereafter had a meeting with the association and assured it would ensure that dealers deposit cash in banks without any hassle provided they inform the administration about the amount, bank and other relevant particulars.

“The petrol pump dealer had about four days of cash (proceeds) at his disposal as banks were closed during the period for Bihu. So, he could go to the bank only on Wednesday but was intercepted by the flying squad in the Noonmati area. This led us to contemplate going cashless from today but following the DC’s assurance, we have decided to accept cash as well as ATM card or digital payments,” Dijen Mahanta, secretary of the association, told The Shillong Times on Thursday.

The district administration also provided contact numbers of additional district magistrates for the association members to contact for intimation or any query during the period.

The third and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Assam will be held on April 23.

There are about 75 oil depots registered with the Greater Guwahati unit of the North East India Petroleum Dealers’ Association.