Mizoram govt orders rationing of fuel

Aizawl, May 22 (PTI) With the fuel stock running out in the wake of the economic blockade in neighbouring Manipur, the Mizoram food, civil supplies and consumer affairs department had ordered rationing of diesel and petrol.

Long line of vehicles were seen near pumps in the state capital and elsewhere since yesterday with a large amount of fuel being taken to Manipur, hit hardest by the blockade.

Official sources said while trains carrying fuel from Guwahati failed to reach Ramnagar oil depot in neighbouring Assam?s Cachar district, the satellite depot at Mizoram-Assam border town Vairengte also completely dried up.

The opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) slammed the government for not taking steps to ensure fuel security by allowing the oil stock transported unhindered to Manipur without considering the hardships faced by its own people.

Relief at last for Manipur - Minister escorts 300 trucks with essential commodities

An oil tanker being loaded into Indian Air Force's IL76 cargo plane in Guwahati on Saturday. A. Pandian, general manager, Northeast integrated state office of IOC, said more such sorties were likely. A Telegraph picture Imphal, May 22: Manipur heaved a collective sigh of relief with food and civil supplies minister Yumkham Erabot Singh escorting 300 supply trucks to Imphal and two air force cargo planes bringing four diesel tankers from Guwahati today. The trucks, escorted by the minister from Jiribam, adjoining Assam's Cachar district, were carrying petrol, LPG, rice and other essentials. The reception of Erabot Singh, who was hailed as "hero" and the "saviour of Manipur", started when the convoy reached Keithelmanbi, a valley about 16km from here. The minister leading the convoy had to stop at more than 15 places between Keithelmanbi and Imphal city, 222km from Jiribam, to receive garlands. "Our minister is a hero. It is because of him that the trucks could reach Imphal and our problems will be lessened now. The minister is bringing trucks carrying our lives," N. Amuthoi Singh, a 45-year-old schoolteacher, said at Patsoi in Imphal West where Erabot Singh got a rousing reception. The trucks started moving from Jiribam yesterday, but could not reach Imphal because of security reasons. They halted near a security post at New Keiphundai in Tamenglong district. Sources in Jiribam said the government had provided Manipur Rifles guards to facilitate the movement of the stranded trucks towards Imphal after it got wind of Earabot Singh's visit to Jiribam. This is the first time that supply trucks plied on Imphal-Jiribam road since the blockade. Some supply trucks also started coming from Mizoram through Churachandpur district through National Highway 150. "Henceforth supply trucks would go to and fro along Imphal-Jiribam highway and you need not worry. The government has agreed to provide security regularly," Erabot Singh told the crowd. Some trucks were damaged when blockade supporters rolled down boulders while the convoy was passing Noney in Tamenglong. Ibobi Singh told the media this evening that his government would use NH53 till the situation on the Imphal-Dimapur highway normalised. "We will also use NH150," he said, adding that NSCN (I-M) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah would not be allowed to enter Manipur.

(The Telegraph)