Scarcity of petrol and diesel during bandhs and blockades is quite common in the valley of Manipur as well as the availability at higher rates in the black markets. Or rather the valley people had grown accustomed to it and whenever any untoward incident occurs in the national highways one would notice long queues in retail outlets of petroleum products and at times when the highway is cut off by natural causes for an extended period of time the state resorts to rationing. This happened quite often, when the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) main depot was located only in Chingmeirong where the storage capacity could only stock a week’s supply of petrol and diesel.
But now, with the commissioning of a Rail-fed depot at Malom and also a Gas bottling Plant at Sekmai there is always a month’s supply of petroleum products in hand. Except in the case of strikes by tankers or gas bullets, instances of oil scarcity have greatly reduced much to the relief of the general population in the state. Sadly, this is not the case in some regions like Churachandpur where the CSOs have shut off all kinds of traffic from the valley.
Churachandpur district was struck by scarcity of petroleum products. Acute shortage of petrol and diesel at the five oil pumps located in the town area of Churachandpur in the last few days had adversely affected the public while leading to the thriving of black marketers in many parts of Churachandpur town. Reports say, Thursday saw the sale of petrol and diesel in the town from just two authorised pumps which ran out of fuel soon after the opening.
With the news that petrol and diesel would be available on May 16, 2024, vehicle owners were seen queuing since 9 pm of Wednesday which stretches for more than a kilometre. The shortage of petrol and diesel was partly due to the recent rainfall and landslide at different parts of Mizoram, which was the main source of goods transport since the crisis in Manipur erupted on May 3, 2023.
Some radical leaders and CSOs thought they could tide over any crisis through Guite Road, which is now a National Highway and passes Mizoram state before reaching Assam. Also, they have constructed a motorable road from Churachandpur district to Kangpokpi passing through Kangchup-Koubru range. But the so-called Guite Road is most unreliable in public transport and heavy vehicles particularly during the rainy season.
The highway was even torturous during the winter season in most stretches. While truckers and tanker drivers are protesting going even in the Jiribam highway due to bad road conditions, it would be hard to convince them to ferry petroleum products and essential goods during the rainy season through the circuitous Guite Road.
Meanwhile, armed militants had recently attacked trucks and tankers carrying petroleum products on Jiribam highways in a bid to discourage the traffic. Right now, passing through Kangpokpi on the Dimapur Road is out of the question even with heavy escorts. So, they must have thought stopping traffic on Jiribam highway would strangle the valley. That did not happen and Churachandpur is facing the music of scarcity now due to extreme weather conditions. Now, they may start blaming the valley for the inconvenience.
(The views expressed are personal)
