TMC protest over fuel crisis in Tripura, suggest alternate way via B'desh

Agartala (Tripura), July 18 (ANI): The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday brought out a protest march in Agartala against the Manik Sarkar led Left Front government in failing to address the ongoing fuel crisis in the state continuing for the last more than one month which has led to the government imposing fuel rationing and casketing affect on the price of daily necessary commodities. They suggested that if the government is failing to transport fuel through the national highway via Assam then the it should think of alternate way through Bangladesh. TMC spokesperson Sushanata Chowdhury said for the last almost two months the people of Tripura have been suffering due to acute scarcity of petroleum products. "Every time both the government at the centre and the state have come with the plea to save their face and Lowerpoua road condition has been adopted as the face saving plea. But no positive approach, what so ever, has not yet been initiated by the government seriously with the government of Assam to give respite to the people of the state. So, we vehemently protest and oppose this approach by the government of Tripura and demand immediately to address this crisis that the people of Tripura have been confronting since long," he added. He also said if necessary the government should take step to get petrol and diesel via Bangladesh and for which the state and the centre should take immediate step. "Alternate transportation of petroleum products via Bangladesh may be ensured to give respite to the people of the state. With this demand we will hand over a memorandum to the director of food and civil supply," the TMC leader added. The protest march started from the Vivekananda stadium and ended in front of the director office of food, civil supply and consumer affairs. A delegation of TMC leaders also submitted a memorandum to the director. Meanwhile, in view of the stalemate in the Assam-Agartala national highway and the alternative highway, the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) is planning to bring petroleum products through Bangladesh. The IOCL is contemplating to use Dwaki (Meghalaya) or Akhaura to bring petroleum products like petrol, diesel and LPG. Following the shortages caused by the disruption of both rail and road traffic, prices of essential commodities has also increased in Tripura. It may be recalled that petrol is being sold at Rs 200-250 per litre in Agartala through black marketing. (ANI)