Manipur reels under cooking gas shortage
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 23 2025: A drastic fall in transport of LPG into Manipur due to pathetic conditions of the National Highways has affected distribution of the household cooking gas.

LPG distributors are currently unable to meet the demand of household consumers.

There is a massive backlog of three months, said distributors.

The Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) has around 100 LPG distributors in Manipur.

While the Sekmai Gas Bottling Plant normally supplies 40-45 loads of packed cylinders a day, this has been reduced to just around 15 loads per day, said the distributors.

Last Thursday, the plant supplied just 8 loads of packed cylinders.

Today, the plant supplied 25 packed cylinders.

In short, on an average, the plant is supplying only 15 loads per day.

Therefore, it takes upto 4-5 days for a distributor to get a full load, they explained.

The Sekmai bottling plant is also supplying packed LPG cylinders for consumers in Churachandpur, Senapati, Tengnoupal and Kangpokpi, they added.

While only about two LPG Bullet tankers reach Imphal in a day through Imphal-Jiribam Highway, the transportation of the LPG on Imphal-Dimapur has been halted for over a month now, said the distributors.

A trip from Imphal to New Bongaigaon Loading Point and back to Imphal on the NH-37 takes between 20-25 days.

Further, due to the pathetic condition of the road, most tankers are not willing to travel the road for fear of damaging their vehicles, they said.

Meanwhile, loading of LPG bullet tankers has also started at New Guwahati.

While this is expected to increase transportation, it may not be enough to meet the supply here, said the distributors.

The distributors are struggling to meet the demand of the household consumers amid attempts to fulfil demand of the Central security forces and the police.

The distributors will meet shortly to discuss the issue, they said.

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