Vehicles lined up at a fuel station in Dimapur on December 13. (Morung Photo by Manen Aier)
Dimapur, Kohima DCs urges public not to panic buy and hoard
Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 13
As panic buying ensues, the district administrations of Kohima and Dimapur appealed for calm while assuring that there is sufficient stock of essential commodities.
Dimapur Deputy Commissioner, Anoop Kinchi, said there is sufficient stock of essential commodities, including foodgrains, petrol, diesel and LPG available in the market.
The DC had convened a meeting on December 13 with traders— wholesale dealers of essential commodities, petroleum and LPG distributors, alongwith the Dimapur Municipal Council, Dimapur Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) and police.
The meeting was held in the backdrop of perceived public fear that the civil unrest in Assam over the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act would affect the supply situation.
According to the DC, the public should not panic. He further appealed commuters to fill their vehicle tanks but requested to refrain from taking extra barrels for filling petrol/diesel in the interest of equal distribution to all consumers.
On the same note, DC Dimapur also warned all traders against hoarding of commodities thereby causing artificial shortage and price escalation. He cautioned that defaulters would be liable for stringent punishment, including cancellation of trade licence and even imprisonment.
When contacted by The Morung Express on the prospect of rationing fuel, the DC said that the situation does not demand such an action as there was adequate stock.
As per the DCCI, there is enough stock of dry rations for three months for the entire state. DCCI President Akashe Zhimo said that stern action will be taken against traders indulging in hoarding.
Kohima
The Kohima DC, Gregory Thejawelie informed the public that there is no shortage of fuel and other essential commodities in the district and informed the general public not to resort to panic buying and hoarding of fuel and other essential commodities.
In a release, the DC added that to avoid traffic jams and long queues at the petrol pumps, restriction has been imposed for filling of fuels in containers, except in the vehicles.
The district administration along with Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) is constantly monitoring the availability of fuel and other essential commodities in the district, DC stated.
Mokokchung
The Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) informed that it met the DC today and reviewed the stock status of essential commodities in the market.
The DC and the MCCI appealed the public not to be alarmed and refrain from panic shopping. “While it is prudent to consume LPG and fuel sparingly… the public need not panic as there is sufficient stock of essential commodities and lifesaving drugs in the market, except for perishable items” MCCI stated in a press release.
The MCCI further warned traders against “unethical business practices taking undue advantage of the situation” and added that traders found hoarding and hiking prices will be dealt with sternly.
An official of MCCI confirmed to this newspaper that there was no shortage of “dry essential commodities” but confirmed that perishable items might go out of stock any day now. It was also confirmed that LPG cylinders were already out of stock in the market and that the district administration might be compelled to intervene in rationing petrol and diesel fuel as three out of the four refill stations in the town have gone out of stock. The last trucks carrying essential commodities arrived in Mokokchung on December 9.
‘No cause for alarm’
Meanwhile, the Indian Oil Corporation informed that it has enough stock of petroleum. IOC officials in Dimapur said that unsubstantiated reports about an alleged fuel crisis created panic resulting in a public rush to stock up on Thursday evening.
“If the situation (in Assam) persists, it’s a different matter. But as of now, there is no cause for panicking,” an IOC official told The Morung Express today.
The IOC is the largest distributor of petroleum in Nagaland supplying to as many as 48 fuel outlets across the state. In Dimapur district, it supplies to 16 outlets.
Two tankers were already dispatched to Mon today to tide over surging demand since December 13 evening, the official said.
Inputs from Mon stated that contrary to fears, fuel was available in the district headquarters. “There were vehicles queuing up but as per information stock has not run out,” said a Mon resident. The situation in Kiphire was also said to be normal.
Queried on the stock status, the official estimated that the available stock should last two weeks. The reserve can be stretched provided there is no panic buying and hoarding. The official added that arrangement was already underway to replenish the available stock.
While most other fuel pumps directly catered by Numaligarh Refinery went dry today, IOC outlets were running. According to the manager of a non-IOC outlet in Duncan Basti, his stock ran out early in the morning today after an entire night of hectic sale.
