IMPHAL, July 23: Several loaded oil tankers numbering around 105 will be reaching Imphal tomorrow. The tankers which are amongst the many which were stranded outside the state due to the July 12 sinking of a 110 metre stretch of the Imphal-Dimapur road at Phesama in Nagaland will be coming through the Imphal Jiribam road.
In the meantime, the state Chief Minister today met with representatives of transporters and other related Ministers in his office chamber on the issue of loaded trucks stranded outside to enter the state through the Jiribam-Imphal highway.
The meeting was attended by Works/Transport Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar Singh, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Minister M Okendro Singh, related officials, All Manipur Petroleum Tankers & Drivers’ Union president Y Bhupenchandra Ghosh, Indian Oil Corporation state level co-ordinator and Depot Manager and representatives of other related transport unions.
After the AMPTDU president minutely described the present situation of the sunken highway stretch at Phesama and on considering all the problems along the by pass roads, the meeting decided to use the Imphal-Jiribam Highway.
The AMPTDU also appealed for the provision of separate security escort to the oil tankers, which was approved by the state representatives during the meeting.
It may be mentioned here that 105 oil tankers which had been stranded outside the state following the sinking of a 110 meter long highway stretch at Nagaland which had reached Jiribam yesterday had left the sub-division today around 5:30am.
The tankers including 26 petrol tankers, 30 diesel tankers, 11 Kerosene Oil tankers and 37 LPG bullets had already reached Awangkhul in Tamenglong district this evening.
The tankers are provided escort by four Manipur Rifles Maruti Gypsy in two sections led by a Jemadar from Jiribam.
Meanwhile, it is also learnt that a commando team had already reached Awangkhul to receive the tankers today.
Meanwhile, during the meeting it was also decided for the state Works Minister accompanied by related officials to visit Phesama tomorrow.
Escorts for other transporters other than oil tankers will be arranged on July 25 and more than 100 empty tankers will be leaving the state capital tomorrow.
