Manipur Looks at Myanmar to Meet Essential Needs

Imphal, Aug 24 : Faced with a shortage of fuel and essential commodities, Manipur has sought permission from the central government to import fuel and rice 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.

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.

Manipur is expecting to get a consignment of 30,000 metric tons of rice in the next few weeks, with Manipur Industrial Development Corporation (Manidco) getting a formal approval from the Ministry of Food and Civil Supplies to this effect.

Official sources in Imphal said the import would be carried out under provisions of the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14, and the state government will also be getting exemption from any kind of import duty for the same. Once the transportation formalities are worked out, the rice would be brought in by NH-39 from Tamu in Myanmar to Moreh in Manipur, the sources said.

“Our Chief Minister has been pressing the Centre for permission to import rice and petroleum products directly from Myanmar for several months now. The Chief Minister also made a strong plea to the Prime Minister during the NDC meeting in New Delhi last month,” N Biren, Manipur government spokesman, said from Imphal.