Imphal: The Manipur government has decided to establish a coordination committee to review and update the existing standard operating procedure (SoP) governing the movement of fuel and LPG convoys along National Highway-37, the state's crucial Imphal-Silchar lifeline.
The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh on Saturday evening to address issues concerning the safe movement of petroleum tankers on the highway.
According to an official statement, the committee will be headed by the Commissioner (Home) and comprise representatives from the Police, CRPF, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (CAF&PD) Department, as well as members of the core committee representing petroleum transporters, retail outlet dealers, LPG distributors and drivers' associations.
The panel has been tasked with examining the current convoy protocol and recommending necessary changes.
It is expected to submit its report within one month, after which the revised SoP will be officially notified in the state gazette.
Pending the revision, the Home Department and Police Headquarters have been directed to ensure strict implementation of the existing convoy guidelines.
The government will also appoint a nodal officer to supervise convoy operations on NH-37 and periodically assess security arrangements based on the prevailing situation.
As part of the measures, district Superintendents of Police will be instructed to intensify operations against criminal elements allegedly involved in extortion along the highway.
The move follows repeated complaints from petroleum and LPG transporters over alleged illegal collections on the Imphal-Jiribam stretch of NH-37.
In July, transporters' associations had warned of suspending operations from July 31 unless the government took effective action to curb extortion.
Fuel, petroleum products and LPG tankers have been travelling under security escort along the route since ethnic violence erupted in Manipur in May 2023, a report said.
The transporters' associations have alleged that nearly 100 tankers in each convoy are compelled to pay illegal levies to miscreants operating along the highway.
According to them, the amount allegedly collected from each vehicle has risen sharply from around ₹200 in the initial stages to nearly ₹7,000 per truck.