Petroleum stock position on a low as Catch 22 situation continues
IMPHAL: Manipur is facing acute shortage of essential commodities and petroleum products due to economic blockade imposed by the United Naga Council council since October 31.
The stock position of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is low, said official sources.
Only eight oil depots were opened in the state which were, however, closed down after few hours. None of the oil depots will be opened on Thursday, they said.
About 200 oil tankers and hundreds of trucks carrying essential commodities were stranded on the national highways.
Most of the drivers had spent the last 10 days on the highways without any help.
The state government is now in a Catch 22 situation as different organisations have put up separate demands over the issue of granting district status to Jiribam and Sadar hills.
Jiribam is under Imphal East and people living there have to travel by air to reach the district headquarters.
The condition of Imphal Jiribam National Highway under the BRO of India Army is deplorable.
Sadar hills under Senapati district is also facing similar problems.
For administrative convenience, the state government had decided to upgrade but it never made any announcement due to strong opposition from the United Naga Council (UNC).
The UNC has opposed the upgradation on the ground that the area is dominated by Nagas.
Since October 31 last, the UNC has imposed blockade and ban on all national projects as a warning to the Manipur government to not declare the upgradation.
The people of the two sub-divisions have also announced series of stirs if the government fails to upgrade the regions.
The Jiribam District Demand Committee (JDDC) has imposed a five-day economic blockade on the Imphal-Jiribam highway from November 7 midnight in order to demand immediate upgradation.
The Joint Action Committee for Sadar Hills has asked the three MLAs of Sadar Hills and all the Congress Councillors of ADC Sadar Hills to take a decision on the hills by today.
It may resort to stir if the government fails to announce upgradation to full district status.
Various organisations have also opposed the blockade imposed by United Naga Council during this period as the people of Manipur were on the brink of celebrating festivals like Ningol Chakkouba, Diwali and Kut.
People have started piling up essential commodities as the United Naga Council stir normally lasts for a longer period. In 2011, the blockade lasted for 68 days. (PTI)