By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 16: Irked by frequent disruptions in the transportation of fuel to Meghalaya, the state government is searching for land to build a petrol depot in the state.
Sources from the Department of Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs said the government has been searching for land for some time to construct a petrol depot but it has not been successful so far. “We tried to get land at many places. We are now going to intensify our search,” an official from the department said.
The government wants to build a petrol depot that can look after the state’s requirements for at least five days in emergency situations.
In the past one month, the North East Petroleum Mazdoor Union (NEPMU) threatened twice to block the transportation of fuel to Meghalaya. It issued the threats after some of its members were arrested for alleged pilferage of fuel.
Some petrol pumps in the state expressed unhappiness over the threats frequently issued by NEPMU.
“Their members were caught for pilferage but they want everyone to be released from jail without any process. This is not done,” a petrol pump owner said on the condition of anonymity.