Closure of sole petrol pump hits Mawshynrut residents

NONGSTOIN: The closure of the only petrol pump at Riangdo in West Khasi Hills has inconvenienced people of Mawshynrut who have to travel 37km to Shallang to get fuel.
The petrol pump closed down two weeks ago without any notice. Members of the Khasi Students’ Union, Mawshynrut circle, led by its president Armstrong Sohshang, met deputy commissioner in-charge KL Nongbri on Thursday.
Sohshang said when they went to the petrol pump to enquire about its poor service, it had already shut down. “Now, people have to buy petrol and diesel from the black market at high prices and some are even travelling 37km to Shallang to fill up empty tanks,” he added.
Nongbri said there was a “misunderstanding” by the petrol pump staff and that he had spoken to Indian Oil Corporation to solve the problem. “I hope that tomorrow (Friday) or the day after (Saturday) we will receive a response from IOC and petrol will reach Riangdo soon,” he added.
Apart from the petrol pump issue, the KSU leader also told Nongbri that for two months there were no officials at Mawshynrut civil sub-division office and people had to come to Nongstoin for official work.
Later, Nongbri told reporters here that the government would look into the matter and officials would be appointed soon.