Imphal, July 16: Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh today informed the House that his Government has taken up maximum alert for providing security along National Highway 39 and 52, which are the two life lines of the State and process is underway for allotting land to station Highway Protection Force.

Replying to a Calling Attention Motion moved by Legislature leader of Federal Party, M Nilachandra, who wanted to know the steps being taken up by the Government to mitigate the problems being faced by the people on account of frequent blockades and bandh imposed on the two National Highways, the Chief Minister, who is also in charge of Home said that two Dedicated Security Groups have been formed for providing protection along the Imphal-Dimapur road.

These Dedicated Security Groups are giving escort to all the vehicles going outside Manipur from Sekmai between 9 am to 11 am, and they also escort back the Imphal bound vehicles from Senapati during the same time.

Moreover, the Army and State police forces are patrolling the National Highways, the Chief Minister said.

Besides taking up works to ensure protection along the route by dividing it into three zones, process is underway for allotting lands for developing infrastructure to install police stations at five different points along the National Highway, the Chief Minister said.

However, the Chief Minister hastened to add that possibility of deploying adequate security forces at all the posts along the two National Highways is out of the question, the people of the State have to bear some difficulties till Imphal has railway connection.

He informed the House that Union Railway Minister Nitish Kumar has assured him that most of the process for introduction of railway in the State has been completed and only one enquiry to be conducted by the Planning Commission is left for realizing the dream of railway connectivity with the rest of the country.

The Chief Minister further said that the Centre has asked the State Government for pooling in the required expenditure for installing railway line and development of infrastructure for the Protection Force for which the Centre would be reimbursing the amounts afterward.

But it could not be carried out due to the acute financial condition of the State.

Moreover, there is the problem of lack of adequate man power to meet the demand of security coverage to BRO, who are being constantly disturbed by anti-social elements, he said.

Taking up the call attention motion, Nilachandra noted that drivers and handymen of the vehicles plying along the National Highways are always at the receiving end when any organization resort to bandh/blockade as there is no mechanism on the part of the Government to give them prior information of the agitations.