Guwahati, May 22: While much of the focus remains on the violence and its aftermath in Manipur, one area that played an equally essential part to ensure smooth movement of security troops and transport vehicles used for evacuation of stranded people in the State was fuel.
People in crisis hit Manipur not only had difficulty moving around to get their essentials, even the refilling of the LPG cylinders was a huge issue.
To help people deal with the situation and ensure they don’t face any shortages, the 414 Army Service Corps Battalion Marketing (Territorial Army) helped to secure the State’s energy installations.
Employees and contract workers from Oil Marketing Companies faced difficulties reaching installations due to security constraints or had to be evacuated due to ethnic violence. As a result, several installations either had to shut down or operate at reduced capacity due to a shortage of manpower.
In response to this operational challenge, the Territorial Army was deployed to take control of the non-operational oil installations and provide additional manpower to ensure the supply of essential petroleum, oil, and lubricant products, as well as refuelling of aircraft. Three vital oil installations became the focus of their efforts: the Imphal Aviation Fueling Station, Malom Bulk Oil Depot, and Sekmai LPG Bottling Plant, which served as the energy lifeline for Manipur.
Within 48 hours of receiving orders, the battalion swiftly arrived in Imphal and immediately commenced intensive work to restore the Malom Depot to full operational capacity. Tank trucks were dispatched, aviation turbine fuel (ATF) tankers were decanted, and both civilian and defence aircraft were refuelled.
Presently, the Depot is functioning at the same efficiency level as before the crisis, with over 400 tank trucks delivering products to various petrol pumps, Manipur Police, Army, and Assam Rifles units across Manipur.
Impressed by their outstanding performance, the initial task assigned to the Territorial Army Battalion was expanded. They were further entrusted with assisting in the operations of the Sekmai LPG Bottling Plant, located 26 kilometres from Imphal. The unit carried out this task with great proficiency, dispatching approximately 8,000 to 10,000 cylinders daily to meet the demands of the region.
Recognizing the significant impact of an energy crisis on the economy and the psychological well-being of the population, the unit worked tirelessly to prevent such consequences from materialising. Their efforts were acknowledged by Lieutenant General HS Sahi, AVSM, YSM, SM, the General Officer Commanding 3 Corps, who visited the unit. He commended the 414 ASC Battalion (Territorial Army) for their exceptional service in averting a major crisis that had the potential to escalate to unimaginable levels. Lt. Gen. Sahi urged everyone to continue discharging their duties with the same zeal and enthusiasm, thereby ensuring energy security for the state of Manipur.
TA Marketing Division
Established in 1983 by the Government of India to handle emergencies, both internal and external, this battalion is affiliated with the Marketing Division and consists of over 100 employees from Indian Oil.
These employees undergo specialised training provided by both the Army and Indian Oil to effectively manage various oil installations, including those related to petroleum, oil, and lubricants (POL), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and aviation fuel. They are regularly updated on the nuances of operating different oil locations across the country.
