RNCM's bandh underway, fuel scarcity looms large
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 18 2024: As announced earlier, the Rongmei Naga Council Manipur (RNCM) has imposed an indefinite bandh on NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam highway), Leimatak Project road and Tongjei Maril road with effect from Sunday midnight.

The RNCM has been demanding re-demarcation of district boundaries by way of merging villages of five tribes/sub-tribes which are currently under Churachand-pur and Kangpokpi district with Noney district.

The five sub-tribes are Chiru, Kharam, Rongmei, Aimol and Kom.

Many villages of these five tribes/sub-tribes are currently under Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts and they have been facing lots of difficulties in travelling to Churachandpur or Kangpokpi district headquarters for official matters.

RNCM's bandh underway, fuel scarcity looms large

The people of these villages are of the view that it would be far more convenient if their villages are brought under Noney district.

With the Government not responding positively to their demand so far, the RNCM decided to impose an indefinite bandh.

It is said that emergency services, medical, water supply, electricity and education would be exempted from the purview of the bandh.

On the other hand, the bandh is likely to have crippling impacts on transportation of goods on NH-37.Transportation of essential commodities is likely to be disrupted.

Transportation of petroleum and petroleum products would be worst affected as other commodities are transported on NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur highway) too.

Unlike other essential commodities, petroleum and petroleum products are ferried only on NH-37 .

Sometimes BPCL's tank trucks based in Assam brought fuel to Manipur through NH-2 but the volume of fuel is too little and their trips come far and between.

If the RNCM and the State Government can come to an understanding and the bandh is lifted within a couple of days, it would do well for every section of the society.

However, if the RNCM and the Government cannot strike an agreement and the bandh drags on, all the valley districts and some hill areas will face acute scarcity of petrol, diesel and LPG.

The people have been already facing acute shortage of LPG.

With the LPG distributors unable to meet the consumers' demand, many are buying LPG from black markets at prices as high as Rs 2400 per refill.