Indian Oil Corporation airlifted 96,000 litres of diesel to Manipur on Monday evening to alleviate the fuel crisis triggered by the indefinite economic blockade imposed by the United Naga Council.
As per a report, almost 32,000 litres of high-speed diesel in two tankers were airlifted from Guwahati’s Borjhar Air Force station to Imphal on Monday. Two more rounds were conducted the same day where 64,000 litres of fuel were airlifted to Manipur. C17 cargo aircraft is deployed by the Indian Air Force on request of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
“Indian Oil always made stride whenever there is a crisis to help the people in distress. We are obliged by the help provided by the Indian Air Force in terms of providing logistics,” said IOC Executive Director Dipankar Ray about the development.
Just after United Naga Council imposed an indefinite bandh and economic blockade on 1st of November 2016 on NH-2 and 37 in protest of Manipur’s CM Okram Ibobi Singh government’s decision of upgrading two district one Sadar Hills and another Jiribam to full-fledged districts, without consulting the Nagas and Kukis tribemen who forms a large majority and ancestral land in these areas, the entire state is facing severe crises regarding essential commodities which includes fuel, food, life saving drugs etc.
While on one hand the NH-37 has been partially reopened, NH-2 is still not in use.
Almost two-month long economic blockade in Manipur imposed by the United Naga Council is seen as a sign of the failure by the Government of India to strike a cordial conclusion to Naga peace talks as per the promise by BJP-led government.
Till now, four thousand paramilitary troops have been deployed to counter the economic blockade, but no relevant relief regarding current situation has been seen.
Reports also disclose that UNC has decided to intensify the blockade after Manipur poll dates were been announced.
