Manipur starved of petroleum products due to road blockade

IMPHAL - With oil tankers stranded since February 6 due to the tribals and students blocking the highway Manipur is facing acute shortage of petroleum products.

The Imphal-bound oil tankers that have been being stranded at Khatkhati in Assam following the imposition of the economic blockade along the National Highway 39 by the Senapati District Students’ Association.

Senapati District Students’ Association is demanding renovation of the National Highway 39 that starts from Numaligarh Assam and passes through the states of Nagaland and Manipur.

Ranbir Singh, a petrol filling station attendant said that due to this blockade the fuel was being sold in the market at exorbitant rates.

“Because of the economic blockade called for not repairing the National Highway which goes towards Nagaland, the tribal groups have blocked the vehicles until the road is being repaired. Because of that all the vehicles are stranded at Kharakhati and not a single vehicle has come down. Even our pump has three vehicles and all of them have been stranded over there,” he added

Damudor Singh, a daily user of vehicles said that he is employed with an engineering company that requires him to undertake regular tours of various project sites and for allied tasks.

However, all his tasks have come to a standstill due to non-availability of petrol and also black marketers selling petrol and diesel at higher rates.

“As I’m working in the engineering company, my nature of job requires me to make frequent field visits to check the developmental works, Unavailability of petrol has created us a lot of difficulties to me. And the fuels available in black sometimes are adulterated and sometimes good. The oil that I get from outside costs me rupees 55 per litre,” he added.

Most of the oil pumps in Imphal area could not ensure normal supply of fuel to the public as such a good number among these remained shut down on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the locals hope that better senses would prevail among the powers-that-be and the demands of the locals in Senapati region for proper upkeep of the roads are met sans any further delay. (ANI)