Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 18, 2010:
Necessary arrangements would be made for bringing all the oil tankers, goods laden trucks and other vehicles which are still stranded at Jiribam, but hesitant to take the route on the Mizoram side through National Highway 53 very soon, senior Cabinet Minister Th Debendra has assured.
This is a new development as the Cabinet had a few days back decided to opt for NH-150 or Guite Road as it is popularly known, with even a Ministerial team inspecting the condition of the road.
Talking to mediapersons in his office chamber here today, Debendra clarified that the State Government is not at all averse to the idea of developing National Highway-53 or bringing back the stranded vehicles from Jiribam.
It is just because of the apprehension of some possible obstruction at some portions of the road that no escorts have been arranged to bring them back.
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Nonetheless, after some security personnel have been sent along the National Highway 53 few days earlier, troops of BSF have also been despatched to follow suit yesterday.
These security personnel have cleared the route and the stranded vehicles would be brought back very soon, the Minister assured.
He further informed that although there may be no possible obstruction along the National Highway from Jiri to Nungba as of now, it is feared that there could be problems in some parts of Awang Khun and Noney area.
On account of the blockade, there are over 30 stranded trucks carrying petroleum products at Jiri and they are stationing inside the campus of Jiribam Higher Secondary School.
Some trucks loaded with rice lifted from Ram Nagar, Silchar are also still stranded at FCS godown, Jiribam, the Minister disclosed.
It may be noted here, the earlier plan of the Government to bring back the stranded vehicles through National Highway 53 (Imphal-Jiribam Road) on May 12 had to been deferred because of security reasons.