IMPHAL: With the indefinite economic blockade on National Highways 39 & 63 entering the 13th day on Saturday and the Kukis being adamant on continuing the agitation till realizing their demand, the people of Imphal Valley have started feeling the heat.
First, the rate of a filled LPG cylinder in the grey market shot up to Rs 900 and vegetable prices started soaring in local markets. Now, people requiring to tank up their vehicles are forced to turn to black marketers with most filling stations running out of stock. Worse, there's an acute shortage of medicines, including life saving drugs, in the valley.
The Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) has been imposing the economic blockade on the two highways from July 31 seeking district status for the Sadar Hills area in the Kuki-dominated Senapati district. Various Naga associations have, in the meantime, opposed the Kukis' demand and said the government should not take any decision without the Nagas' consent. Besides imposing the economic blockade along the two key supply routes of the troubled state , the agitators have also called a general strike since Tuesday midnight.
The agitation has already triggered an inflation, giving a big blow to the commoners. Most of the fuel outlets in Imphal have also been closed. Only a few filling stations are left with a dwindling stock and are selling fuel in a rationing system. On the other hand, office bearers of the Manipur Chemist and Druggist Association said following the economic blockade, the only means to get medicines from outside the state was through the air cargo transport system.
When the state faced an acute shortage of life saving drugs owing to similar agitations in the past, the association had sought help from the government. "We had also asked the government to allow us ferrying light medicinal items on air cargo. We hope that the government allows us to do it this time," an official said.
Prices of food stuff and vegetable such as potato, pulses and onion are skyrocketing already. At some places, people have to shell double the amount that they normally do. Traders in Imphal have started procuring commodities such as rice, onion, garlic, eggs and pulses and other household items from Myanmar via the border town of Moreh in Chandel district, though in less quantity. Though the price of petrol and diesel remain constant, the rate of a filled liquid petroleum cylinder in the grey market shoots up to Rs 900.
During last year's five-month economic blockade of these routes by Naga agitators, people of the region had to contend with sky-high prices of essential commodities with petrol costing Rs 200 a litre and an LPG refill costing Rs 2,000 a cylinder.
A random survey carried out at the major commercial hubs at Imphal has also found a steep dwindling of foodstuff in private godowns.