The recent report of land encroachment of the existing Manipur State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) complex in Dimapur and the mess perpetrated by its cashier has simply exposed the psyche of the leaderships of the Manipur Government. If one looks the dismal affairs prevalent in the MSRTC complex, it appears that there is none to care or protect these important assets.

It is more shocking to note that MSRTC’s 11 out of the 15 residential quarters located inside its complex have been leased out at the rate of Rs 500 each per month by the cashier. The huge MSRTC godown has been converted into cement storing place after leasing out to a cement dealer at the rate Rs 3000 per month. A large portion of the land belonging to the MSRTC, Dimapur has been encroached upon and built a house, surprisingly, by a man from Bihar.

Interestingly, none of the tenants has any official document for occupying the residential quarters in the complex nor is there any legal paper for leasing out the huge godown of the MSRTC, Dimapur.

Given the present situation, there seems to be some shady deals involved in the whole episode. Can anybody imagine that such thing can happen without the knowledge of the official (s) posted there? Who has authorized them to lease out 11 residential quarters of the MSRTC, Dimapur and the godown to a cement dealer without arranging necessary legal papers and, the most importantly, without the instructions from the authority concerned (Manipur Government)? How a man from Bihar could construct a house inside the premises of the complex? Is it not tantamount to misusing the public property liable to be punished as per the laws of the land? Is it not the serious issue to be taken up immediately for necessary actions against the official (s) or person (s) involved in the shady business to save the image of the State? Is the Manipur Government not aware of such things that have been going on for so long? It should immediately constitute a High Level Committee to investigate into whole affair.

There was time the MSRTC had really enjoyed the reputation for its excellent service especially on the National Highway 39, popularly known as Imphal-Dimapur road. Many people from Nagaland had nostalgic memories of having availed the services of MSRTC.

The MSRTC complex in Dimapur was the face of Manipur in those early days when there were hardly any private bus services rendered from Imphal to Dimapur and vice versa. The mode of transport was only the services provided by the MSRTC.

Unlike others States’ Transport Services like Assam State Transport, the MSRTC services have really symbolized the State’s integrity and proximity to the neighboring people in Nagaland and in fact a symbol of bonding emotionally between the people of the two States---Nagaland and Manipur.

But this historic complex located in the heart of the fast growing commercial hub of Nagaland adjoining Assam has been reduced to money minting business in the hands of some unscrupulous official (s) whose main duty is to take care and protect the properties of the MSRTC, Dimapur. The condition prevailing in the complex depicts the level of mindsets of the mandarins in Imphal. When they don’t understand the reality of life beyond Sekmai on National Highway 39, it will be difficult for anybody to imagine that these lame ducks would have slightest feeling of the plight of the common men who heavily depended on this National Highway and the importance of upkeep of this historic complex in Dimapur.

There is no question of the complex being encroached which has earned the honor and respect from Nagaland Government and its people because of its past records. All these unwanted things took place due to the prolonged negligence by the Government of Manipur and the poor knowledge of the importance of having such complex in Dimapur by some influential NGOs.

The Government of Manipur may justify on the collapse of the MSRTC services under the pretext of security concern on the Imphal-Dimapur road. It is true that there are incidents taking place on National Highway 39 from time to time. But then which road is secure this day. What about Imphal-Moreh road and Imphal-Silcher road. Even in Nagaland, people are not secure. Innocent Naga people are subjected to inhuman tortures in various State highways. Miscreants have burnt down passenger buses, taxis, beaten up innocent passengers and robed them off their belongings, etc. This has become a common phenomenon elsewhere in the region.

It will be a biggest mistake on the part of the Government of Manipur to contemplate closing down this historic MSRTC, Dimapur which is not only the symbol of Manipur people outside the State but also a sign of bonding emotionally between the communities of the two States.