Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 17:
Despite the assurance given by Union Home Secretary VK Duggal that essential commodities would be made available to the people who are reeling under the impact of the indefinite economic blockade imposed by ANSAM, sale of LPG is thriving in the black market including the Assembly Constituency of FCS Minister Ngamthang Haokip.
The Sangai Express conducted a survey of the National Highway 39 after ANSAM lifted the economic temporarily and what was seen was hard to believe.
In almost all the shops located along National Highway 39 from Senapati to Sekmai, one could see cooking gas cylinders being sold openly in black.
Believe it not, the cooking gas cylinder's are also found being sold in the markets and shops of Saitu, which is under the Constituency of FCS Minister Ngamthang Haokip, so openly that one is left wondering from all these gas cylinders have been come from while the same could not be find even in godown of the LPG agents.
Placing the gas cylinders upside down with paper boards inscribed 'Cooking gas available here' or 'Cooking gas buying here' adorn the front of the shops situated along the National Highway from Senapati to Sekmai, giving indication of a striving business amidst scarcity.
Now the question is how these cooking gas cylinders which are controlled and released through the agents are available in plenty along the National Highway 39 and from where they have come?.
In this striving black market, the cost of the LPG cooking gas along with the cylinder is Rs 1000 and double the normal cost with the exchange of the cylinder.
Efforts to contact FCS Minister in this connection remain in vain as he is informed to have gone on an official tour.