Impending fuel crisis
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: November 05 2011 -

Chingthou Keicha from the desk

It's a matter of fact that Manipur faces acute shortage of fuel and other essential commodities whenever there is economic blockade or general strike on the two national highways in the state since these are the only lifelines for the people of the state.

This time too, the twin economic blockades which lasted for more than 90 days has brought the state to a situation where nothing much is left to describe the miseries and hardships facing by the people.

Even if the SHDDC had suspended its indefinite economic blockade after an assurance from the state government, there is no breather from the miseries and hardships for the people of the state as the UNC and other fellow organisations of the Naga community strengthened their economic blockade. By studying the prevailing situation and demands of the SHDDC and UNC, both sticking firmly to their stand, one can easily acknowledge that there's still no end to the miseries of the people.

Besides other essential commodities, prices of petroleum products have soared sky high. People spent Rs 200 or more for a litre of petrol on the day of Ningol Chakkouba. The condition is still same with a litre of petrol sold over Rs 180 in the black market. Not only these, a litre of diesel is sold at Rs 65 or more.

With long queue in front of petrol pumps to get a few litre of petrol or diesel, many are compelled to buy fuels from the black market even if they do not want to do so.

Moreover, many of the major highways of the state connecting Imphal and other places began to bore a near-deserted look in afternoon as almost a quarter of the passenger vehicles and private vehicles stopped plying due to the acute scarcity of fuel.

Adding to the miseries is a report that appeared in the media stating that stocks of petroleum products is almost exhausted with just a bare minimum remaining which would be reserved for the VIPs and security forces.

Official reports stated that an important bridge has collapsed in Silchar which makes it impossible for the oil tankers to bring in fuels into the state.

It is good for the Chief Minister of Manipur, in such situation, to lay down three options to the visiting Union Home Minister to use Central Security Forces to clear the economic blockade on the NH 2 and give free and safe passage to the tankers or repair the bridge in question in Silchar or bring in the petroleum products by train upto Jiribam from where tankers can bring them to Imphal.

Recently, the Supreme Court had questioned the Centre why it is remaining a silent spectator to the frequent highway blockades in the country and suggested to give free hand to the police forces to tackle such highway blockades which threaten the development, peaceful atmosphere and welfare of a state and the nation.

It has been learnt that the bridge in Silchar has collapsed badly which made it irreparable. Re-construction of the bridge right from the foundation will take much time which leaves out this option. A detour would not be a wise option since it will only increase the cost of ferrying in the fuels which will have a direct impact to the people.

With these, only two options are left with the government which are clearing the national highways using central security forces and provide safe and free passages to the tankers or bringing in fuels upto Jiribam by train. Of these two options, the later would be more cost effective since rail transport is the cheapest land transport system as of now.

Be it one way or the other, the state government and Centre should act without any delay to give some relief to the grief stricken people of the state before the situation takes an ugly turn and all routine works of both government and private sectors come to a halt.

If the government is quick enough to give the long awaited relief to its people, they will happily embrace the impact of the price hike of petrol by Rs 1.82 which came into effect since last midnight.