Mizoram petrol pumps run dry as fuel gets diverted to troubled Manipur
Source: The Sangai Express
Aizawl, December 21 2016:
The ongoing crisis in the neighbouring state of Manipur has led to a scarcity of oil in Mizoram.
Leaders of the central committee of the Young Mizo Association (YMA) said petrol pumps in the state are indulging in black market trade, taking advantage of the prevailing tension in Manipur.
Manipur has been on the boil since the creation of seven new districts was announced by the present Congress regime.
"The oil scarcity is the doing of unscrupulous filling station owners, who are selling petrol and diesel at higher prices to people who are transporting the oil to Manipur," vice-president of the central committee of YMA Vanlalruata said.
Vanlalruata said they have appealed to all owners of filling stations to stop selling oil to Manipur, where the cost of a litre of petrol has shot up to Rs 100 and that of diesel to Rs 90 per litre following the United Naga Council-sponsored economic blockade.
Most filling stations in Aizawl are running dry even as Christmas, the most important festival in Christian-majority Mizoram, approaches.
YMA has instructed its units along the Aizawl-Manipur road to be alert and detain any oil-carrying vehicles suspected to be heading towards Manipur, YMA president Lalbiakzuala said.
A large number of vehicles lined up at the state government-owned MIZOFED filling station on Tuesday where a small quantity of petrol was reportedly available while majority of the privately-owned filling stations were displaying 'No Petrol' signs.