New Delhi: Even though security advisor to the Manipur government, Kuldiep Singh, had recently told local media that the state police has made arrangements for a separate escort party for petroleum tankers to wheel down National Highway 37 without facing attack by miscreants, drivers, transporters and dealers associations of petrol pumps and LPG outlets of the valley areas came together in Imphal this Sunday to state a different ground reality.News reports quoting them states that if the state government doesn’t address the situation “at the earliest”, there is going to be crisis situation for LPG and petrol supply.According to an Imphal Free Press report, “ninety percent of the retail outlets and underground tanks are drying out (except for dead stock) and only a few retail outlets are having maximum stock which will run out in three or four days maximum, especially the petrol products.”The news report said the meeting was jointly called by Drivers’ Association of POL, POL Transport bulk LPG and petroleum dealers of Manipur where “aggrieved dealers” spoke of facing issues of a “severe nature” on the arterial highway that connects Manipur’s Jiribam to the state capital Imphal through the tribal-dominated districts of Kangpokpi and Tamenglong. The report said those issues “involve firing gun bullets at the vehicles, several physical assault or harassment and rampant exorbitant extortion at multiple areas which is increasing day by day.”Due to the continuing strife between the Kuki and Meitei communities dominant in the hill and valley areas respectively, some powerful Kuki civil society organisations like Committee on Tribal Unity have declared an ‘economic blockade’ on the highway, a lifeline of sorts for essential goods to the valley areas. At several times, the state government has said that it has cleared the road from such a blockade which the drivers and transporters’ association contradict. Media reports have continuously highlighted that the Kuki groups reimpose the blockade thus snapping an important road route to Imphal.In Sunday’s meeting too, these associations once again urged the state government and the concerned authorities to resolve the matter “at the earliest”, citing a looming crisis for petrol and LPG supply in the valley areas.These associations have been on strike now demanding the government’s intervention to ensure their safety.In a memorandum submitted to several persons in the government including chief minister N. Biren Singh and the security advisor after the joint meeting, the valley-based petroleum fraternity said, “Despite our sincere request to resume supply of fuel to the retail outlets, drivers/drivers’ associations are determined to continue the strike until their demand to the Government for protection and safety is fulfilled.”“This will lead to a very serious crisis of petroleum products in the State,” the Sangai Express quoted from the memorandum.