GUWAHATI: In a bid to maintain the supply of essential commodities in
the state of Mizoram following the self-imposed "economic blockade" by the people
of Assam's Barak Valley, Mizoram food, civil supplies, and consumer affairs minister
K. Lalrinliana on Thursday said that it is unlikely that there would be any
scarcity. Mizoram state government has facilitated the transportation of fuel
and other essential commodities from Tripura and Manipur.
It may be noted that Mizoram also shares an inter-state border with Manipur (95 km) and Tripura (66 km) Apart from Assam.
Minister K. Lalrinliana said that the state government under such circumstances have begun transporting petrol and diesel from Tripura since Wednesday last.
He further added, "Some oil tankers are expected to arrive in the state capital from Tripura by Friday. We will also send seven oil tankers and another four trucks to transport LPG from Tripura's capital Agartala on Friday."
Minister K. Lalrinliana reiterated that the state government has succeeded in reaching an agreement with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) authorities in Tripura for the steady supply of essential commodities like rice into the state of Mizoram.
He assured saying that "As of now, we have sufficient rice stocks for at least three months. Other essential commodities are on the way. Tripura-based traders have already entered Mizoram and there would be no dearth."
It may be noted that the state government is currently holding negotiations with the Manipur government to facilitate the transportation of LPG and other fuels. Mizoram, which is currently under lockdown due to Covid19 is stated to have no crisis of essential commodities despite the "economic blockade" by the people of Barak Valley.
"There is no bandh or blockade in Mizoram and heavy trucks and other vehicles, manned especially by non-tribals are uninterruptedly moving towards Assam non-stop. No vehicles have entered the state from Assam in the past two days" he said.
It may be mentioned that earlier on Wednesday, Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) received a writ petition from the Mizoram government seeking an urgent intervention to lift economic blockade on the National Highway-306 in Assam.
It may be mentioned that NH-306 is the vital lifeline for the state that links it to the other NE states along with the rest of the country through Silchar.
The letter to the MHA further read, "Unknown miscreants from Assam has destroyed and removed railway tracks at Mohammedpur and Ramnathpur railway stations in Assam's Hailakandi district, the only railway line connecting Bairabi railway station in Mizoram's Kolasib district."
Assam however denied the fact and clarified that the state has not imposed any sort of economic blockade in the state.
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