The Manipur Government’s latest assurance that there is no shortage of fuel in the state offers only temporary comfort. During a Meet the Press programme at the DIPR Auditorium, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (CAF & PD) appealed to the public not to indulge in panic buying following the steering-wheel-down strike launched by petroleum transporters. The Director further expressed that around 74 loaded fuel tankers are currently at the Imphal–Jiribam route. While such assurances may help calm public anxiety for the moment, they completely miss the central issue that triggered the transporters’ agitation.
The petroleum transporters did not suspend their services due to any shortage of fuel. Their decision to go on strike came after a 15-day ultimatum, issued to the Government on July 15, seeking firm action against what they describe as widespread illegal taxation on the nearly 200-kilometre Imphal–Jiribam National Highway. According to the transporters, each vehicle is allegedly forced to pay close to Rs. 25,000 in illegal collections. Their demand is simple, allow transporters to use National Highways without being subjected to extortion.
The Government’s handling of the issue raises a troubling question. If every fuel tanker requires an armed security escort to travel safely, why do transporters still claim they are being forced to pay illegal taxes? What is the purpose of deploying security personnel if extortion continues unchecked? A convoy moving under armed protection while illegal collections persist cannot be seen as a sign of effective governance. Instead, it points to a serious failure in administration and enforcement.
Illegal taxation along Manipur’s National Highways has persisted for years, despite repeated assurances from the authorities. Successive governments have held meetings, made commitments, and promised action, yet the networks allegedly behind these unlawful collections continue to operate. Over time, an unacceptable reality appears to have taken hold—transporters are left with little choice but to absorb these illegal costs in order to keep essential goods moving. Inevitably, the burden is passed on to the public through higher prices of fuel, food, and other daily necessities.
While security convoys may be necessary during periods of crisis to ensure the movement of essential supplies, they cannot serve as a long-term substitute for effective governance. National Highways are public assets under the jurisdiction of both the State and Union Governments, and people have every right to expect that they can be used without fear of intimidation, extortion, or unlawful interference. If transporters still need armed escorts simply to travel along these highways, it inevitably raises serious concerns about the government’s capacity to uphold the rule of law and ensure safe, unhindered movement on its own roads.
The effects of this prolonged inaction are now visible across Manipur. Many petrol pumps have either run out of fuel or are struggling with limited supplies, while those that still have stock are witnessing long queues of anxious motorists. Families, daily commuters, emergency services, and businesses are all feeling the impact of a crisis rooted in a problem that should have been addressed long ago.
The disruption is not confined to fuel alone. Trucks transporting vegetables, fruits, medicines, construction materials, and other essential goods are frequently delayed for days due to insecurity and alleged illegal collections along the highways. By the time many of these consignments reach their destinations, perishable items have already spoiled, leaving transporters and traders to absorb heavy losses. At the same time, consumers are forced to pay higher prices as the added costs ripple through the supply chain. The economic consequences are significant, yet they stem from a problem that is both preventable and solvable.
Even more troubling is the human cost of this long-running crisis. Over the years, several truck drivers have reportedly lost their lives while transporting essential goods along these vulnerable routes. Whether the deaths resulted from violence, accidents, or the harsh conditions of working under constant fear and uncertainty, each incident underscores the failure to ensure safe passage on highways that should be governed by the rule of law. No transporter should be forced to put life and livelihood at risk simply to deliver essential supplies to the people of Manipur.
The people of Manipur deserve more than repeated assurances that another convoy of fuel tankers is on its way. They deserve highways where transporters can travel without fear of extortion or intimidation. More importantly, they deserve a government that addresses the root of the problem instead of repeatedly responding only to its consequences.
The ongoing steering-wheel-down strike should be viewed as a warning, not just another crisis to be managed until normalcy returns. It presents an opportunity for the Government to take meaningful action by dismantling the networks allegedly involved in illegal taxation, strengthening law enforcement along the highways, ensuring that those responsible are prosecuted regardless of their influence, and rebuilding public confidence in the State’s ability to enforce the law.
Until illegal taxation is eliminated in a meaningful and lasting manner, every fuel convoy entering Imphal under armed escort will carry a message beyond the delivery of essential supplies. Rather than reflecting administrative success, it will continue to highlight the Government’s inability to guarantee what should be a basic right for every citizen: safe, secure, and lawful travel on Manipur’s National Highways.
Leader Writer: Sh Ajit
