Some ship in fuel from Myanmar, Kohima
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 02 2017:
In the backdrop of the acute shortage of fuel in the State on account of the UNC's indefinite economic blockade, some people have been shipping in fuel from Myanmar and Kohima.
Even as essential commodities are being transported along Jiribam-Imphal highway amidst tight security arrangements, these supplies are quite insufficient to meet the people's requirements.
Except for one, all oil pumps located along Imphal-Jiribam highway remain closed even today.
Notably, the UNC's economic blockade is now 63 days.
More than 500 loaded trucks were escorted up to Imphal on December 30 from Jiribam and the convoy included just six petrol tankers and 14 diesel tankers of IOC which implied that the rate of fuel transportation was quite low.
Meanwhile, no one has any clear idea how many tankers of NRL, BPCL and Essar have reached the State and whether they have been distributing fuel to public in a systematic manner or not.
Although there is acute shortage of fuel, the number of vehicles seen on roads particularly two-wheelers and light motor vehicles has increased considerably in the last couple of days.
This has evoked a question.
From where do the fuel come ? .
An independent investigation carried out by The Sangai Express revealed that some people have been shipping in fuel from Moreh and Kohima.
There are also unconfirmed reports about some other people shipping in fuel from Mizoram up to Churachandpur.
Although the exact number of vehicles are not known, many light motor vehicles like jeeps and cars have been transporting fuel in cans from Moreh and Kohima up to Imphal.
These fuel brought from Kohima and Moreh are sold at Imphal at exaggerated prices.
Starting from near Mt Everest School, Senapati, NRL petrol and diesel are sold openly just beside Imphal-Dimapur highway.
Price of petrol at these road side vendors is Rs 80 per litre.
Fuel bought from these vendors are taken to Kanglatongbi and then Imphal where the price of petrol in black markets is Rs 140/150 per litre.