Newmai News Network Imphal | November 4 Supply of fuel and other essential items has been hit hard in Manipur following strikes called by different organisations in pursuit of their demands in the last few days. Transshipment of petroleum products has been seriously hit by economic blockade and as a results, petroleum stock has been depleted, officials in IOC Imphal informed. Over 1000 Imphal-bound goods-laden trucks are currently stranded at Mao in Senapati district along the Imphal-Dimapur road on Friday, sources said. They will not move towards Imphal until provisions for adequate security arrangement are made. All Manipur Petroleum Product Transporters Association is also on strike since November 1 protesting against the Expression of Interest, a new initiative taken by IOC. People are buying petrol and diesel from black market spending a whole lot more money than necessary to meet daily requirements. All oil pumps have shut after running dry. Shortage in supply of consumer items due to the blockade is likely to inflate the normal price in the coming days. United Naga Council (UNC) has been imposing an indefinite economic blockade along both the Imphal-Dimapur highway and Imphal-Jiribam highway to show opposition to the state government's plan to declare Sadar Hills and Jiribam as full-fledged revenue districts. Meanwhile, All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) said it will not withdraw the ongoing economic blockade along the highways linking land-locked Manipur. ATSUM demands a 'practical solution' to the current reservation row in Manipur University. Tribal pressure groups usually target the highways on different issues to stir up government which they often blame for neglecting their plight. All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) said no new district based on ethnic lines should be made. Sadar Hills of Senapati district is considered a Kuki-dominated area and the demand of district creation has the potential to fuel tension as the Nagas do not want their "ancestral" village areas to be included in the proposed Sadar Hills district. Manipur is home to several ethnic groups with Meitei being the largest community. The state currently has nine districts inhabited by different groups. In the case of Jiribam subdivision of Imphal East, Zeliangrong social organisations have raised opposition against converting it into a full-fledged revenue district saying the community's "ancestral land" will not be allowed to be carved out in the process. However, the Jiribam District Demand Committee (JDDC) maintains that a Jiribam district will bring about development and changes. The Congress government headed by Okram Ibobi Singh is expected to feel the heat of the political development pertaining to the twin district creation issues which are likely to have an impact on the electoral politics in the poll-bound state. Major issues like territorial integrity, ILP, Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, and boundary disputes, are likely to dominate the state assembly polls to be held early next year.
