Imphal, July 10: Around 62 Imphal-bound oil tankers are still stranded between Dimapur in Nagaland and Karbi-Anglong Rajpalace area of Assam as a result of the ongoing indefinite economic blockade imposed by ANSAM along National Highway 39 since the midnight of June 19.Disclosing this while talking to mediapersons at the office of All Manipur Petroleum Tankers Drivers' Union at Chingmeirong this afternoon, Union president Y Bhupenchandra Ghosh urged the State Government to make adequate security arrangements so that these stranded vehicles can be brought to Imphal.

He also assured all possible help from the side of the Union in bringing these vehicles.

Out of the 62 stranded vehicles, 31 of them are carrying diesel, 19 petrol, 10 Kerosene fuel and two other Air Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), he further informed.

Apart from the security concerned, the owners of the oil tankers which are stranded at Kharkhati for the last 20 days have to pay parking charges at the rate of Rs 10 per vehicle every day as they are being parked in private pattalands, Bupenchandra said.

Lack of adequate safe drinking water and latrine facilities further compounded the problems of the drivers and handymen who are also running short of money, he lamented.

Informing that the window shields of two of the oil tankers ,which were among the ones brought to Imphal by an escort party recently, were broken along the way when suspected blockade supporters pelted stones, Bhupenchandra also complaint against the detention of the tankers from unloading by the police for two-three days even after reaching Imphal.

He expressed apprehension that the remaining stock of petrol at the Chingmeirong depot may last for 10 days, the stock of ATF would not.