Imphal, June 17 2010: Transporters and Drivers' Council today reiterated that they will not ply the Imphal-Dimapur section of the NH 39 until their demands for safe passage of vehicles, free from all sorts of disturbances, etc.

were fulfilled.

Unless and until the governments of Manipur and Nagaland and the Centre give assurances to fulfill the Council's demands on curbing collection of "illegal taxes" by the underground groups and civil organisations on the highway, and payment of compensation for the vehicles damaged during the blockade in Nagaland, any kind of state vehicles will not take the route, Imphal-Dimapur section of the NH-39, asserted Ng Haridas, general secretary of the Council today.

Talking to reporters at the Council's office, Haridas said that no state vehicle has resumed plying the Imphal-Dimapur section of the NH 39 even though the ban on vehicles with Manipur registration number has been lifted by the Naga Students' Federation (NSF).

Vehicles will continue to ply the NH 53 as before, he said.

Even if the ongoing economic blockade on the National Highways is lifted fully, the Council will continue to press the authorities to fulfill its demands, he said.

The Centre and the two state governments should pay adequate compensations for the vehicles which were damaged or burnt down during the blockade.

The Government of India as well as Nagaland should give assurance that collection of illegal taxes by the undergrounds at various places on the stretch of the highway within Nagaland state would be stopped permanently, he demanded.

Haridas also appealed owners of the vehicles and drivers operating on the Imphal-Dimapur section of the NH-39 to send their vehicles on this route.

The council will not take any responsible for any untoward incident to those vehicles violating the decision, he cautioned.

While reacting to the information that some Tata Magic and Winger taxis are transporting passengers from Imphal upto Mao for their onward journey to Dimapur and other parts of the country, if such service continued further, action will be taken up on them.