Kalimpong, Sept. 19: Supporters of the Citu-affiliated Hill Motor Driver Workers’ Union today gheraoed the office of the subdivisional officer (SDO) here demanding proactive steps by the administration to end the fuel crisis plaguing Kalimpong.
The shortage of petroleum has resulted from the fact that tankers and petroleum carriers are finding it difficult to reach the hill town as rains and landslides continue to disrupt roads in the hills.
“Fuel is being sold in bulk to hoarders who in turn are making a killing by selling it in the black market at a premium. Besides, the petrol pumps are also taking unusually long in placing fresh orders,” alleged Tara Sundas, the president of the Citu’s Kalimpong unit. “If the problem is not resolved soon we will bring the entire traffic in the hills to a stop.”
Of the three petrol pumps in the town, two have been closed for different reasons. The one at 8th Mile is facing charges of adulteration, while the 11th Mile petrol pump suffered extensive damage in a landslide earlier this month.
Sundas also came down heavily on the NHPC for damaging NH31A at 27th Mile. “We can’t let the NHPC survive at the expense of the people of Kalimpong and Sikkim.”
Members of the GNLF-affiliated Gorkha National Drivers’ Front echoed Sundas. A delegation of front members met the SDO today and expressed concern over the damage done to their trucks by bulldozers and excavators of the NHPC while negotiating the landslide-hit stretch of road at 27th Mile.
The SDO, P.T. Sherpa, promised to look into the problems at the earliest. “I will take up the issue at the meeting called by Darjeeling district magistrate Rajesh Pandey in Siliguri tomorrow. The meeting has been called to review the condition of the road network in the hills.”
The shortage of petroleum has resulted from the fact that tankers and petroleum carriers are finding it difficult to reach the hill town as rains and landslides continue to disrupt roads in the hills.
“Fuel is being sold in bulk to hoarders who in turn are making a killing by selling it in the black market at a premium. Besides, the petrol pumps are also taking unusually long in placing fresh orders,” alleged Tara Sundas, the president of the Citu’s Kalimpong unit. “If the problem is not resolved soon we will bring the entire traffic in the hills to a stop.”
Of the three petrol pumps in the town, two have been closed for different reasons. The one at 8th Mile is facing charges of adulteration, while the 11th Mile petrol pump suffered extensive damage in a landslide earlier this month.
Sundas also came down heavily on the NHPC for damaging NH31A at 27th Mile. “We can’t let the NHPC survive at the expense of the people of Kalimpong and Sikkim.”
Members of the GNLF-affiliated Gorkha National Drivers’ Front echoed Sundas. A delegation of front members met the SDO today and expressed concern over the damage done to their trucks by bulldozers and excavators of the NHPC while negotiating the landslide-hit stretch of road at 27th Mile.
The SDO, P.T. Sherpa, promised to look into the problems at the earliest. “I will take up the issue at the meeting called by Darjeeling district magistrate Rajesh Pandey in Siliguri tomorrow. The meeting has been called to review the condition of the road network in the hills.”
