60-day blockade brings Manipur to its knees
Tuesday October 04, 2011 10:11:41 PM, Syed Zarir
Hussain,
IANS
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Imphal: A litre of
petrol at Rs.200 in the black market and a cooking gas cylinder
for Rs.1,500 or more... After two months of a blockade in Manipur,
world boxing champion Mary Kom says she's at her wits' end trying
to balance training for the Olympics with the slow process of
cooking with firewood.
"Cooking food using firewood eats up a lot of time and hence life
is becoming very tough. Cooking gas cylinders are not available
due to the ongoing economic blockade. I am forced to burn firewood
in the kitchen," the mother of twin boys told IANS.
"My preparations are also getting affected."
The five-time world women boxing champion from the northeastern
state is only one amongst the many thousands trying to cope with
the blockade, which has not only driven up the cost of commodities
but brought the state virtually to its knees. Hospitals have put
on hold all routine surgeries due to non-availability of oxygen
cylinders while stocks of essentials, baby food and life saving
drugs have almost dried up.
The blockade on the two national highways, the main lifelines
linking Manipur with the rest of India, is a result of a bitter
rivalry between two tribal groups over creation of new district in
the region.
The Kukis are demanding a separate Sadar Hills district while the
Nagas are refusing to give up their land for it.
Hundreds of trucks carrying essentials and medicines have been
stuck in the adjoining states of Nagaland and Assam with
protesters laying siege to the two highways.
"A litre of petrol is selling at Rs.200 in the black, a cooking
gas cylinder for Rs.1,500 or more while a kilogram of rice is
selling at Rs.60 to Rs.70," said Sunil Singh, an Imphal resident.
"Life has become difficult for people in Manipur. Supplies of
essentials, fuel, gas cylinders are becoming scarce and
unscrupulous traders are having a field day charging exorbitant
rates," said Basanta Singh, another resident.
Landlocked Manipur depends on supplies from outside the region.
Trucks from the rest of India carrying essentials pass through
Nagaland.
"The blockade has resulted in acute shortage of food, medicine and
other essential commodities; very soon, the entire life support
system in the state will collapse,' said T. Singh, a rights
activist.
The Manipur government has been reduced to a mere spectator,
unable to break the deadlock despite five rounds of talks between
the warring tribal groups.
"We are trying our best to resolve the crisis," a government
spokesperson said.
(Syed Zarir
Hussain can be contacted at zarir.h@ians.in)
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