The Petroleum Products Drivers’ Association today called off its strike with immediate effect following assurances and financial compensation announced by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh for drivers who sustained grievous injuries while transporting essential commodities.
With the strike called off, drivers will resume loading petrol and diesel from the Malom Depot and LPG cylinders from the Sekmai Bottling Plant. Transportation of loaded petroleum products from Jiribam to Imphal will also resume.
However, tanker and LPG bullet drivers will not join the empty convoy for the time being. They will await a meeting between representatives of the concerned stakeholders and the Chief Minister, expected to be held on or before September 15.
The decision to withdraw the strike comes after days of disruption to the movement of petroleum products, underscoring the vulnerability of Manipur’s essential supply lines to incidents along the National Highway.
The drivers expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to the public during the strike and thanked those who supported them during the difficult circumstances faced while transporting essential commodities along the highway.
At the same time, the association issued a strong appeal to all communities and civil society organisations in Manipur to ensure the safety of drivers transporting essential commodities during any future protest, strike, bandh or blockade.
The drivers stressed that they come from different communities and that the petroleum products and other essential commodities they transport are intended for people across communities.
They urged all stakeholders to exercise restraint and ensure that drivers and transporters are not targeted during agitations, warning that attacks on those carrying essential supplies ultimately place the entire population at risk.
The association said the safety of transport workers must be treated as a collective responsibility, particularly when Manipur remains heavily dependent on highway transportation for fuel, cooking gas and other essential commodities.
The immediate resumption of fuel and LPG transportation is expected to ease supply pressure, but the drivers’ decision to keep the empty convoy on hold until the proposed meeting indicates that concerns over their security remain unresolved.
The outcome of the meeting with the Chief Minister will therefore be crucial in determining whether adequate safeguards can be put in place to prevent a repeat of the disruption and protect drivers moving essential supplies into the state.