Bodies to back TDC stir, tag NH-2 extortion zone
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 15 2012: Decision of the Transporters and Drivers' Council (TDC) to forbid unloading of PDS items at the Sangaiprou and Koirengei godowns has received support from the United Club NH-37 (National Highway) and All Manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor Workers' Union.

Besides endorsing the TDC agitation supposed to come into effect from June 18 against the 'movement order' issued by the General Manager of FCI Regional Office (Nagaland/Manipur Region), volunteers/members of these organisations also asserted that they would enforce the prohibition on off-loading of goods at the said storage facilities.

speaking at a joint press conference held at the MG Avenue office of All Manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor workers' union today, Union general secretary H Kulamani and United Club president Th Shyam Khaba Nganba declared that the TDC movement would be wholeheartedly supported.

With reference to the General Manager's 'movement order' issued on June 9, Th Shyam opined that disparity in the allocation of PDS items such as rice, wheat and sugar for FCI Dimapur godown and FCI Jiribam godown for shipment to Manipur on the Imphal-Dimapur and Imphal-Jiribam routes has demoralised the spirit of the Manipur masses.

Trucks make their way across NH-2 File pic

Alleging that the huge disparity of 80 percent allocation to Dimapur godown and 20 percent to jiribam godown in the 'movement order' is due to instigation from certain quarters with vested interest, he opined that the order is intended to compel the truckers/transporters ply on the notorious Imphal-Dimapur section of National Highway-39 .

Asserting that such a sinister ploy would not be acceptable to the people of Manipur, the Club president pointed out that truckers have to pass through three States while plying on the NH-37 route besides drivers and their assistants not feeling secured as was proved by numerous incidents of assaulting motor workers and looting of goods by disruptive elements.

In addition to suffering injuries, some transporters were killed by unruly elements while plying on the Imphal-dimapur route where too collection of both legal and illegal taxes are very high, Shyam maintained with apparent reference to armed groups extorting money and beating up or slaying drivers if their (UG groups) monetary demands are not complied with.

Compared to the notorious Imphal-Dimapur route, truckers feel very secured on the Imphal-Jiribam line as people of Assam are not only cooperative and understanding, but the route is virtually a tax-free zone, he said.

Demanding immediate revocation of the 'biased movement order' and replace the same with a more compatible one, Shyam declared that all unwanted incidents arising out of the TDC agitation to forbid unloading of goods with effect from june 18 should be the responsibility of the Regional Office General Manager.

strongly advocating setting up of an FCI regional office here in Imphal to mitigate inconveniences faced by the truck operators as well as for food security of the people of Manipur, he also drew the attention of the State Government for expeditious development of a truck parking at Sagolband Langjing Achouba and opening of a police station at the said site.

Commenting on the impasse, Union secretary Kulamani pledged support to the TDC plan of agitation and also expressed shock at the GM's 'movement order' for June month.

He observed that the 'biased order' not only intents to marginalise the Manipuri masses' aspiration for development of Imphal-Jiribam route but to ensure that tax collection in Nagaland flourishes while people of Manipur suffer.

For passing through Nagaland, a six-wheel truck has to pay annual tax of Rs 8000 with the figure going up to Rs 18,000 for a 12-wheel truck, revealed Kulamani who further claimed that a truck-load of mustard oil means Rs 23,000 tax and Rs 17,000 tax payment by iron-loaded truck, all going to the coffers of nagaland-based armed groups.

While not complying to the tax diktats of UG groups eventually means abduction and severe thrashing of the truck operators, there is no illegal tax collection on the Imphal-Jiribam line thereby facilitating trouble-free plying of truckers on the latter route, highlighted the Union leader.

Asserting that in case the Dimapur Regional Office do not act in sync with the aspiration and interest of the people of Manipur the Union would extend unstinted support to the TDC movement, Kulamani also called upon fellow motor workers to cooperate in the proposed movement.

Any transport operator defying the agitation will have to bear all the consequences, he cautioned.