Kohima, July 6 (MExN): The Nagaland Govt. Registered Class-1 Contractors’ Union (NGRC-1 CU) today affirmed the allegation made by ACAUT Nagaland on the fuel adulteration racket as “fact” and “true”.
In a press release issued by its General Secretary, L. Pukharo Shohe and President, Seyiekuolie, the NGRC-1 CU maintained that the contractors in the State are most affected by the fuel adulteration as they own maximum vehicles and machineries. Stating that the amount of fuel adulteration causing damages to the engine of vehicles and machineries is huge, the union asserted the fuel adulteration causing loss to the society, both rich and poor, cannot be tolerated.
The contractors’ union further termed it true that the fuel outlets have been misused and misappropriated for criminal activities and the racket was going on for the last several years.
The NGRC-1 CU also supported ACAUT’s representation and FIR to arrest the kingpins involved in the fuel adulteration racket and demanded that no one involved in the racket should be spared. “Arresting the managers and staff of the kingpins will not serve the real purpose but by any means the kingpins are to be arrested sooner or later...,” it stated. The union maintained that the kingpins can never be allowed to run any business in Nagaland, especially in fuel.
Meanwhile, it alleged that the Department of Food & Civil Supplies and the minister concerned are solely responsible for the diversion of thousand and thousand litres of kerosene to the black market for fuel adulteration purposes. “It also appears that the fuel available in the state is much more than what had been allocated to the state and this is all happening just because huge litres of kerosene is being poured to fuel tankers for vehicle consumptions,” it said.
The release further claimed that the allocation of SKO to various districts in the State, both AOD & MD, is being given to the same firms/agencies for the last several years. It was alleged that some of the firms/agencies are even owned by top politicians. In this light, NGRC-1 CU questioned why the allocation is given to the same firms/agencies for the last several years. “Where do the remaining allocation of SKO which had not been allotted to district go?” it asked.
The NGRC-1 CU pressured the State Government and the District Administration not to miss the opportunity to bring an end to the racket as “ACAUT Nagaland has brought out all the components to go ahead with public support and no one should be spared from their deed whoever involves in this racket.”
On the other hand, the union questioned why the associations/federations related to petroleum and truck owners are remaining silent on the issue till date. It also questioned the State Government, particularly the Department of Food & Civil Supplies, regarding the huge number of non-Naga dealers in kerosene. “Is (it) that locals cannot deal with it…why the local firm/agency allows the non-local to utilise their shares of allocation and even run business in their names?”
The NGRC-1 CU appealed to all sections of society to condemn the fuel adulteration and join hands to fight against the racket in order not to allow the same crime to happen again in the society.
The union also demanded the State Government to implement the Direct Benefit Transfer in Kerosene (DBTK) in the State to reform the Kerosene Subsidy Regime and also to bring an end to the fuel adulteration racket.
