If someone wants to study 'mismanagement', he or she can take a lesson or two from our Government. No other establishment in the world could have so merrily mismanaged the oil crisis like it has.

They dillydallied the issue for a long time, until the public sector oil companies literally issued a strong warning that they will not be able to import crude if the price is not hiked. The price hike was followed by non availability of petrol and diesel at the bunks.

To this day, there has been no improvement in the situation. Many motorists had to return empty-tanked (!) from petrol bunks in Chennai and its suburbs on Sunday, as the bunk men insisted that they had no petrol or diesel stocks. 'No Stock' notices were seen in many petrol outlets. By night the lights in many a bunk were switched off! Several motorists had to go from pillar to post in search of fuel, spending a lot more of it in the process.

An undeclared rationing is in force. One can understand the problems this would cause to hundreds of motorists who are in urgent missions. One may be on his way to a maternity hospital. Another might miss a flight. Even emergency services are likely to be affected. Is it not the duty of the Government to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply?

Already there is a general price-hike, thanks to the cascading effect of the fuel-price hike and inflationary trends in the economy. The Lorry owners have announced strike from Tuesday midnight. One doesn't know how the Government proposes to deal with the situation. .The general public should be prepared for worse days to come.