Fuel crisis hits Manipur, Centre mum

In Manipur's Imphal Valley, a litre of petrol costs Rs 70 and a liquefied petroleum gas cylinder costs Rs 600. A week from now, Manipur might not have even that.

One month after the All Naga Students Association, Manipur launched the blockade of National Highways 39 and 53-- both linking the capital-- the state's administrative headquarters is reeling under a shortage of essential commodities. Black marketers who have hoarded fuel and LPG are having a field day fleecing desperate customers. In some places, cooking gas is sold for as much as Rs 700/cylinder.

The ANSAM began its blockade on June 19, a day after the anniversary of the 2001 June uprising against Delhi's bid to extend its ceasefire with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isak-Muivah beyond Nagaland.

The trigger for the agitation was the Ibobi Singh government's decision to commemorate the anniversary as 'State Integrity Day'.

Official sources said the available stocks of petrol would last eight days, diesel 12 days and kerosene 19 days.

Security forces have so far been able to escort only two convoys of trucks stranded along National Highway 39 to Imphal.

Despite the volatile situation in the region, all that New Delhi has done so far is to ask the army to clear the NH 53 for regular traffic. Several army units are now engaged in freeing NH 53 of various militant groups so that essential commodities can be ferried to Imphal. But deploying the army is at best an ad hoc solution. Troops cannot remain there forever and in any case NH 53 is not the regular link to Imphal valley.