Fuel mess persists

Monday 25th July, 2022

The much-awaited fuel dispensation scheme has not yielded the desired result although the government considers it a success. The proof of the pudding is said to be in the eating. The new scheme based on the last digits of vehicle registration numbers plus a QR code was introduced to streamline fuel dispensation and keep hoarders at bay. But there are still long lines of vehicles near filling stations in all parts of the country, and many consumers return home disappointed after spending many hours in queues. The problem is also attributable to the fact that most filling stations do not receive fuel supplies daily.

Not all filling stations receive fuel stocks daily, and it is only natural that long lines of vehicles form. People have to wait overnight near the service stations that are scheduled to receive fuel consignments, which, however, are not sufficient for even 40 percent of the vehicles in queues. The employed are the worst affected; they cannot wait in queues for days to obtain diesel or petrol. Fuel queues cause a massive loss of man hours, and thereby take a heavy toll on national productivity, which must also be increased substantially for the country to come out of the present crisis. Most of all, urgent action is needed to prevent people from dying in fuel queues. Hence the need for an efficient fuel rationing system.

The new fuel dispensation system should have been tested several moons ago at the first sign of trouble and improved thereafter with flaws therein and teething problems being sorted out.

Hoarders are still having a field day at the expense of the ordinary public, most of whom wait in fuel queues only to return home empty-handed. Those who are benefiting from the fuel black market include some filling station owners, police officers, politicians, thugs and trishaw drivers. Petrol and diesel are sold at Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 2,000 a litre respectively on the black market, and most trishaw drivers are hoarding fuel full-time, and making huge profits. These racketeers are trying to sabotage the QR code system, and will go to any extent to achieve their goal.

It may be a mistake to expect the Ministry of Power and Energy or the CPC to introduce an effective system to ensure that people are given access to available fuel stocks in an equitable manner. Their high-ranking officials and Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera are not equal to the task.

The country needs leaders and ministers of Lalith Athulathmudali’s calibre to tackle the issues it is beset with, on every front, and not some jokers who are only adept at bootlicking and lining their pockets by striking and facilitating shady deals.

One must have felt sorry for the country when the new Cabinet was sworn in, the other day. One cannot see more than one or two capable ministers in the entire Cabinet. Most ministers are confirmed failures and partly responsible for what befell the governments of Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa. It is only wishful thinking that we will be able to overcome the present crisis as long as these elements serve as ministers. You cannot win a steeplechase with donkeys, can you?

The need for a team of real experts to run the Ministry of Power and Energy, cannot be overemphasised. There are some Opposition MPs who may be able to face the challenge. If none of them is willing to join the present Cabinet, the National List can be used to bring in an expert to be in charge of the power and energy sector, which has to be straightened up fast as a national priority for the economic crisis to be resolved.