~ Sobhapati Samom
IMPHAL, May 16 – In three days’ time, vehicular movement in Manipur’s busy streets may come to a halt as the existing fuel stock may dry up if it is not replenished immediately.
Manipur’s Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Yumkham Erabot disclosing this while briefing mediapersons at his Porompat residence here today, said the existing stock of petrol will last three days while diesel for another nine days against the State’s daily requirement of 75 kilolitres of petrol and 220 kilolitres of diesel.
Manipur is facing its worst fuel crisis due to prolonged economic blockade on Imphal-Mao sector (110 km) of National Highway 39 by All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM) since April 11. ANSAM is demanding amendment of Manipur Autonomous District Council Act.
The situation has worsened due to ‘road blockade’ on the same route by the various Naga bodies besides Nagaland-based Naga Students Federation’s restriction on entry of Manipur trucks since early part of May in the aftermath of ongoing stand-off between Manipur Government and Naga bodies over NSCN-IM General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah’s proposed trip to his native Somdal village in Manipur’s Ukhrul district.
The Minister sought Centre’s intervention in the artificial food and fuel scarcity as the State’s concerned authority has failed to provide mobile security cover to the incoming and outgoing Manipur trucks.
“No security escort has been provided despite repeated requests which has restricted the movement of the trucks till date”, the Minister lamented.
Hundreds of goods-laden trucks and oil tankers are reportedly stranded along Assam-Nagaland and Manipur-Assam borders as no security escorts have been provided to them.
Erabot who had promised to provide the essential commodities within a week said, “I will intimate the matter to Central leaders in order to tackle the situation” and added, “If I were in a position to control the situation, only about 40-50 armed security men is enough to escort the goods trucks on highways”.
Reacting to State Works Minister K Ranjit and Transport Minister L Jayentakumar-led Ministerial team’s inspection visit to Guite Road (NH 150) connecting Mizoram’s capital Aizawl via Churachandpur district headquarter on Saturday, he said existing Imphal-Silchar sector (250 km) of the NH 53 is ‘serviceable’ and shorter than that of Guite Road (515 km Imphal-Aizawl link), he informed. As an alternative, the State Government is planning to lift the essential items from FCI godowns at Silchar instead of Dimapur inNagaland.
Acute fuel shortage looms over Manipur
