Rabindranath Biswas
Harinagar/Diglipur, Sept. 16: Auto-rickshaw drivers and owners in Billiground and other areas under Gram Panchayat Harinagar are facing severe difficulties owing to nonavailability of fuel at Petrol Outlets in the areas.
According to information, a large number of Auto-rickshaw drivers and owners belonging to Auto Associations in Billiground and the general public of Gram Panchayat Harinagar gathered at Gram Panchayat Harinagar with the aim to hold an agitation due to non-availability of petrol and diesel at pvt. Out Let under Harinagar Gram Panchayat yesterday, Shri Manojit Halder, Pradhan, GP, Harinagar said.
There is no petrol pump/Retail Out Let of any Oil Company in the locality and the Auto-rickshaw drivers and owners buy the fuel from pvt. Out Lets run by local fuel pump operators/persons with relevant licenses. However, these local fuel pump operators/fuel vendors applied for the renewal of their licenses which haven’t been renewed by the competent authority as yet, and the reasons are best known to the concerned Officials. The pvt. Outlet operators who have been operating their fuel pumps for the last 20 years have reportedly ceased to stock and sell the fuel lest they should face legal proceedings in the event of not being able to produce renewed license if they are charged/asked by the concerned Officials/Police, the Pradhan informed.
As a result of which, it triggered a huge crisis of fuel in the region all of a sudden forcing/pushing the Auto-rickshaw drivers and owners on the verge of mounting a protest, the Pradhan said. However, the Pradhan along with other PRI Members intervened in the matter and tried his best to pacify the irate Auto-rickshaw drivers and owners with assurances of resolving the crisis.
The Pradhan then led a delegation of PRI Members comprising of Shri Dilip Kumar Das, PSM, Harinagar, Shri Shankar Mondal, ZPM and others and met Shri Ashish Joon, Assistant Commissioner, (HQ), Mayabunder and apprised him of the crisis created owing to non-availability of fuel in the region. The AC reportedly assured the Pradhan and other PRI Members that he would see that Auto-rickshaw drivers and owners don’t face problems owing to this present fuel crisis. The Pradhan reportedly reposed full faith on the AC on the matter and was hopeful that the fuel crisis would be resolved, the Pradhan said.
Amid all this, the Pradhan further disclosed that at present there is no Retail Out Let of IOCL in the locality and hence the motorists and Auto-rickshaw drivers and owners are facing severe inconveniences. However, IOCL has reportedly already sanctioned a Retail Out Let in the locality to sell petrol and diesel about one and half years ago and the oil giant is ready to set up a Retail Out Let but the Revenue Officials have reportedly shown no initiatives towards setting apart the desired land for Retail OutLet, the Pradhan alleged.
Mr. Halder also met the Chief Secretary, A & N Administration and urged him to impress upon the concerned Officials on the matter so that IOCL may set up a Retail Out Let in the region to do away with the prolonged fuel crisis in the region.
The CS, reportedly showing positive gesture on the matter had ordered the concerned Officials to do the needful in the matter so as to facilitate IOCL for setting up a Retail Out Let, but despite that it yielded no fruitful result yet, the Pradhan maintained.
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