Imphal: The Manipur government on Monday sent around 1,900 vehicles with police escort to Silchar in Assam to bring foodgrains and petrol with the state facing shortage of essential commodities due to the economic blockades, since August 21, called by United Naga Council, officials said.
All the vehicles which left Imphal for Silchar would arrive with essential items and petroleum products in the next two days, they said.
Manipur has been facing acute shortage of foodgrains, petrol and life saving drugs due to the economic blockades imposed by UNC on Imphal-Jiribam-Silchar and Imphal-Dimapur- Guwahati national highways to protest the demand of Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) to upgrade Kuki- majority Sadar Hills area into Naga-majority Senapati district into a full-fledged revenue district.
Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh had also appealed to the UNC to withdraw the blockade.
There was a four-km-long queue on Sunday at a petrol pump. On Monday only one pump was selling petrol. Petrol is being sold in the black market for Rs 200 per litre and cooking gas at Rs 1,650 per cylinder.
Government sources say some respite is on the way as an alternative route has been worked out for the supplies to come in. (PTI)