Imphal: Transporters of petroleum products in Manipur have announced an indefinite steering-wheel-down protest from July 31 after talks with Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh over alleged illegal tax collection along National Highway-37 failed to produce a resolution.
The proposed cease-work strike is expected to disrupt the transportation of petroleum products and LPG across the state, affecting operations at the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) oil depot in Malom, the LPG bottling plant at Sekmai and petrol pumps across Manipur.
The decision was announced after a follow-up meeting held at the Chief Minister’s Office in Mantripukhri on July 29. The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Khemchand Singh, senior government officials, and representatives of transporters’ associations.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, All Manipur Petroleum Products Transporters Association (AMPPTA) president A. Tamphayai said the government assured transporters that it would formulate a new law to curb the collection of illegal taxes on highways. However, he said the transporters decided to go ahead with the protest after the discussions failed to address their immediate concerns.
According to Tamphayai, the government appealed to the transporters to withdraw the proposed strike, but the associations unanimously resolved to continue with the cease-work agitation.
Earlier, the Chief Minister met a delegation of transporters operating along NH-37 at the New Civil Secretariat in Mantripukhri in the presence of the Director General of Police, Inspector General of Police, Home Secretary, and other senior officials to discuss the safe movement of goods vehicles along the highway.
In a post on social media, Khemchand Singh said the transporters had highlighted persistent challenges caused by poor road conditions and recurring landslides along the Imphal-Jiribam route.
“The delegation highlighted the challenges posed by poor road conditions and recurring landslides. I assured them that the Government will take prompt and necessary measures to improve safety, strengthen security, and ensure the smooth movement of commuters and transporters along NH-37,” the Chief Minister said.
The meeting was also attended by the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Transport Commissioner, Director of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (CAF&PD), officials of the Indian Oil Corporation Limited, and senior officers of the Manipur Police and the CRPF.
Representatives of the All Manipur Bharat Petroleum Dealers-cum-Transporters Association, All Manipur Bulk LPG Transporters Association, HPCL Dealers Association (Manipur), NAYARA Dealers Association (Manipur), and drivers’ associations of petroleum product and LPG transporters also participated in the discussions.