Fuel supply to ROs halted, long queues return
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 31 2026: With the supply of petrol and diesel to oil pumps coming to a grinding halt from today, long queues have started adorning many oil pumps at Imphal.

Notably, the Manipur Petroleum Transporters and Drivers Association had already announced that they would suspend transportation of petrol, diesel and LPG as well as supply of petrol and diesel from the Malom depot to oil pumps with effect from July 31 .

Moreover, LPG supply from the Sekmai bottling plant to LPG agencies has also been suspended.

Even though the supply of petrol and diesel from the Malom depot to oil pumps has been suspended, there is no restriction on the operation of oil pumps until their existing stocks last.

Fuel supply to ROs halted, long queues return

While long queues were seen in front of some oil pumps, some others had exhausted their existing stocks of petrol as indicated by the signboards "Petrol Nil" .

The Manipur Petroleum Transporters and Drivers Association submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister on July 15 highlighting exorbitant and rampant collection of illegal taxes from POL tankers plying on Imphal-Jiribam highway by militants and criminal elements, and seeking Government interven- tion within 15 days to curb this unbearable burden.

Representatives of the association also held a meeting with top officials of the State Government on July 29 on the issue of exorbitant extortion by multiple armed and criminal groups on NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam highway) .

But the Government officials could not give any concrete assurance to address the issue of extortion on the highway.

This compelled the Manipur Petroleum Transporters and Drivers Association to go ahead with their scheduled agitation, said one spokesman of the association.

Of the many empty oil tankers and LPG bullet tankers parked at New Keithelmanbi for onward movement to Jiribam with security escorts today, those driven by local drivers went back while around 100 tankers driven by non-local drivers remained parked as the cease work strike came into effect from today.

One non-local driver whose vehicle is still parked at New Keithelmanbi said that the condition of NH-37 is horribly bad and it is extremely difficult and exhausting for them (drivers) to drive heavy trucks/tankers between Jiribam and Imphal.

In addition, many militant groups and unlawful elements have been collecting unbearable illegal taxes from the tankers at different points along the highway.

Many a time, the drivers had to forgo their meals as even small sums of money kept aside for meals were robbed of by armed men, he said.

Given the horribly bad condition of the highway and present arrangement of movement of trucks/tankers in convoys with security escorts, how long the vehicles will remain stuck on the highway, the non-local driver said.

Manipur Petroleum Transporters and Drivers Association member M Arun said that the number of armed groups collecting illegal taxes on Imphal-Jiribam highway rose dramatically during the last few years.

Representatives of the association called on Chief Minister Yumnam Khem-chand and asked him to look into this issue of rampant and exorbitant extortion on NH-37 .

As the Government failed to take up any concrete action to address the grievances and demands of the tanker drivers, the association was compelled to launch the cease work strike, he said.

Until and unless the Government gives a concrete assurance to stop extortion on the highway and translates it into action, the cease work strike will continue, he added.