Fuel-short Manipur looks at Myanmar to meet needs

Faced with a shortage in the supply of petroleum products, Manipur has sought permission from the central government to import fuel from neighbouring Myanmar.

The move by the state government comes after the United Naga Council started a 20-day economic blockade in Manipur, starting August 3 — the second such crisis in about four months.

“The state government has approached us to import petrol and diesel from Myanmar since supplies from domestic channels are not reaching the state. However, we are not keen to allow it since Myanmar does not have fuel that meets the Euro III standard. The state along with several other regions is scheduled to move to Euro III norms from October 1,” said a senior official at the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Earlier, Naga groups had blocked National Highways 39 and 53, which connect Manipur with the rest of the country, for nearly two months, starting April 11, to protest the Manipur government’s decision not to allow NSCN (I-M) leader Thuingaleng Muivah to visit his native village. The economic blockade led to severe scarcity of essential commodities, including fuel.

Thirteen big cities — Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Surat, Ahmedabad, Pune and Sholapur — have moved from Euro III to Euro IV grade fuel from April 1. The rest of country is scheduled to switch from Euro II to Euro III norms by October 1.

The introduction of cleaner auto fuel is aimed at reducing environmentally harmful emission of pollutants like sulphur and benzene.

Replying to a Calling Attention Motion in the Lok Sabha today on the economic blockade enforced by Naga groups in Manipur, Home Minister P Chidambaram said the government would not spare any effort to ensure adequate supply of essential commodities. An Indian Oil official said the company was making efforts to supply petroleum products to Manipur through alternative routes.

Chidambaram said the National Highways 39 and 53 were open for traffic so that transportation of essential commodities did not get disrupted.