Petrol is sold at Rs 80 to 90 per litre, diesel at Rs 60 to 70 while a full LPG cylinder is sold at an incredible price of Rs 1800 per cylinder which is more than 400% higher than the actual price. Dr Nimaichand Luwang led a party delegation which had called on the Governor On July 27th in this regard. The price of petrol in the black market during the blockade was Rs 150 per litre and diesel was sold at Rs 110 while a filled LPG cylinder is still being sold at the rate of Rs 1500 to 1800.
“Ever since the economic blockade began on the National Highways 39 and 53, the two lifelines of Manipur by the All Naga Students Association, Manipur from April 12, Manipur has been reeling under non-availability and scarcity of essential items like food items, petrol, diesel oil, cooking gas and kerosene,” he said.
“MPP can not remain mere spectators when the people of this state are facing acute economic hardship,” the memorandum said. “We can not but conclude that there is complete economic breakdown in Manipur which has become an abnormal state. Manipur has failed to restore the economic normalcy which was enjoyed prior to 12th April, 2010.”
Accusing the Government of Manipur of being too inactive to restore normal economic health, the MPP President further stated, “We feel that the Government of Manipur has totally collapsed. Now the question arises as to how long this can go on and how long can we allow such a situation to continue.  Further continuance will only spell doom for Manipur. The price of a match box is Rs 2 and the travelling and transportation charges have increased two-fold.”
The effects are not confined to the state’s transport services. The blockade has also affected the functioning of educational institutions after the school vans hiked the monthly fare. “We are compelled to take Rs 750 against the usual monthly fare of Rs 450 due to unavailability of petrol in the pumps,” Chitaranjan, a school van operator said.
While the state is facing acute fuel scarcity, small traders residing in between Senapati and Kangpokpi towns in Senapati district are making a huge profit out of a makeshift fuel business as one out of every ten houses in between the two hill towns has opened a mini oil depot.
They buy petrol and diesel from neighbouring Nagaland and sell the same at the rate of Rs 60 (petrol) and Rs 45 to 50 (diesel) per litre making a profit of not less than Rs 7-9 per litre. Subsequently in Imphal womenfolk are selling petrol and diesel at Rs 80 to 90 and Rs 60 to 70 per litre.
Manipur’s Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Yumkham Erabot Singh said efforts are on to collect the required items meant for the state. However, the construction work on the 220 km long Imphal - Jiribam sector of the National Highway 53 has severely disturbed the movement of goods. It may be noted here that the state state’s daily requirement is 75 kilolitres of petrol and 220 kilolitres of diesel.
Meanwhile expressing serious concern about the prevailing issues of the state like scarcity of essential commodities, extreme price rise etc, Former Chief Minister RK Dorendro said that the Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress delegation will visit the party’s national leaders and pressurise them to raise the issues of the state.

Sobhapati Samom