Imphal, Aug 2: The Manipur government has decided to constitute a Coordination Committee to review and revise the existing Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) governing the movement of fuel and LPG convoys along National Highway-37 (Imphal-Silchar), following concerns over security and alleged extortion on the state’s key supply route.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh on Saturday evening to discuss issues relating to convoy movement on NH-37.
According to an official statement, the Coordination Committee will be headed by the Commissioner (Home) and comprise representatives from the Manipur Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (CAF&PD) Department, as well as members of the core committee of the Consortium of Manipur Petroleum Products Transporters’ Fraternity, retail outlet dealers, LPG distributors and drivers’ associations.
The committee has been tasked with reviewing the existing SoP and submitting its recommendations to the government within one month. The revised guidelines will subsequently be notified through the state gazette.
Pending the revision, the government has directed the Home Department and Police Headquarters (PHQ) to ensure strict implementation of the existing SoP.
As part of the measures announced, the Home Department and PHQ will appoint a nodal officer to oversee convoy movement along NH-37. The officer will conduct monthly reviews, or more frequently if required, depending on the prevailing security situation. District Superintendents of Police have also been instructed to launch special drives against alleged extortion by miscreants operating along the highway.
The decision follows concerns raised last month by petroleum and LPG transporters’ associations, which urged the government to curb what they described as rampant extortion along NH-37. The associations had warned of suspending transport operations from July 31 if corrective measures were not taken.
Since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur in May 2023, fuel, petroleum and LPG tankers have been travelling along the Imphal-Jiribam stretch of NH-37 under security escort.
Transporters have alleged that almost every tanker in a convoy of around 100 vehicles is forced to pay illegal “taxes” to armed miscreants operating along the route. According to the associations, the amount allegedly demanded has risen from Rs 200 per truck during the initial phase to Rs 7,000 per truck, substantially increasing transportation costs and disrupting the supply of essential commodities.
