Imphal, Nov 4 (ANI): Despite the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) lifting the economic blockade in Manipur, the counter embargo imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC) on National Highways 39 and 37 has adversely affected normal life, as there has been an acute shortage of petrol and diesel in the state.
People are worried so much as they fear that the fuel stock might last just another two or three days.
Manipur has been reeling under acute fuel scarcity due to a prolonged economic blockade of more than three months.
In order to meet the demand of the fuel, the state's Consumers Affairs and Public Distribution Department has rationed the petrol and diesel to limited and selected retail outlets in the state.
"Everyone has been affected, but the most affected are poor families like us, as we live on a daily wages for survival. Prices of every essential commodity has rocketed sky high, and we find it very costly and difficult to buy," said Sanatomba, an auto rickshaw driver, Imphal.
The present scarcity of fuel has led the masses to purchase adulterated petrol from at exorbitant rates ranging from rupees 170 to 200 per litre.
There was utter confusion after there was a radio broadcast informing people that there is ample fuel in the state and consequently, locals queued near petrol pumps in Imphal.
"We have been badly affected as we find it very difficult in availing the daily required fuel. We are very sad by the way we are being made to suffer. As we are being made to halt for a long period causes us a lot of problem," lamented alemnganbi Devi, another local resident of Imphal.
The blockade on the highways linking Manipur, where assembly elections are due early next year, was led by an ethnic tribal group of who were demanding the creation of separate district.
The Sadar Hills District Demand Committee started its agitation since August 1, seeking conversion of the Kuki-majority Sadar hills area in Naga-majority Senapati district into a full-fledged district. (ANI)
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