Tragicomedy – Our NHs 39 & 53 - Just Incredible !

RS Jassal *

We have heard, read columns/editorials and scanned hell of a lot of letters to the editor's using various phraseologies connected with NH 39, NH 53 and NH 150. Fourth one has to be created to be called as Trans-Asian Highway for which a window has been put in place known as 'LEP window' with lots of HOPE and EXPECTATIONS.

65 days blockade has been called off by NSF/UNC/ANSAM but now there is self imposed restriction not to use NH 39, Government unable to cope up & maintain supply line, 'aam admi' unable to bear high costs of living and Government changing guard of maintenance of NH 53 from BRTF to State PWD mid stream, monsoon outcome is yet uncertain, it provides no respite to what State is plunged into. Tradesmen, transporters and expert hoodwinkers have started establishing their own market sheds at Senapati/KPI which can lead to chaos if Govt does not take note of it at this juncture. Let us go a bit deeper in details to deduce the actual reasons and fix the posture for a position at least to stand up.

NH 39 Moreh-Mao (within Manipur), Mao-Dimapur (within Nagaland) is well cut, but never a settled NH like NH 37. Prior to British occupation of Naga Hills it was a footpath, developed into bullock-cart, intermittently used as pony track by foot soldiers of differing denominations for fighting internecine battles/wars by various chiefs, hillmen including Ahom Kings & their cohorts at times.

It may be news to keen readers that 4 Bn. (Manipur), The Assam Rifles was used to be maintained by bullock carts as part of animal transport with officially sanctioned mechanical transport till as late as start of 2nd WW. Second World War hastened its development into quickest possible conversion into motorable mode but lay of the road was badly shaken by bombardment around Maram-Tadubi-Mao and Kohima- Jotsoma-Zubza. Till date the road could not mature into as desirable stability as it should have been.

With ever increasing population, the number of vehicular fleets adding progressively, move in & out of Security Forces vehicular traffic punctuated by increasing strength in UGs long roll, un-avoidable maintenance of Manipur by freight vehicles only and growing necessity of pushing heavy machinery for Kalewa road construction and emerging international phoenix like projects in Myanmar/India IB ie, ICP (International Check Post) for trade etc with Myanmar has made it impossible to close it even for a day for maintenance and proper soling which is the core requirement for sound black topping.

Despite this, a new dimension has been added to the problems for safe use of "Highways" by UGs as well as some unsocial social organisations too of all hues ( hills & valley alike) by introducing their own taxes as follows :-

(a) Annual tax of all commercial vehicles which include Taxi and ambulance service too.
(b) Commodity tax depending on nature of utility of the item and degree of illegality in State trading system.
(c) Issue of subsidised cash receipts say Rs 70 officially for Rs. 7000, etc unofficially by Naga UGs entering in Ceasefire obligations with GoI and valley UGs following suit where possible other than (a) and (b) This again is said to be almost a routine.
(d) Social Development taxes by various students organisations/public organisations.
(e) Sympathy taxes by select clever, self styled well wishers of the drivers of Manipur vehicles. A couple of years back one organisation, even officially collected more than Rs 25 lakhs with mobile office at KTC Police Post, Kohima for construction of a RH (Rest House) for drivers at Kohima sympathising with troubles, drivers usually undergo when held up around Kohima-Mao due vehicles failure, bandh impositions, natural calamities like landslides etc resorting to all sorts of lies. To get correct picture see a soul shaking example.

This organiser (Raghumani) name changed with a handful of associates, deeply moved by the plight of drivers claimed, on his personal intervention, his group was allotted a Govt. building by Chief Minister of Nagaland which was to be renovated for conversion to RH. Neither claim proved correct—building allotment or his meeting with CM. And owners of trucks like NH 39 remained mute & quiet. No questions please! Gentleman is scot free. Where is the money nobody can ask. The CM (Sh SC Jamir)on contact was surprised since he was CM then.

(f) Ceasefire observations tax. All groups of UGs are actually obliging 'aam janta' by remaining under CF document so it is 'aam admi' who has to maintain them so that the UGs could keep their guns reversed. So UG takes it as a right to go in for realising their 'goodwill dues' as & when it is necessitated for which no policy decision from their HQ is required nor any record to be maintained.

These are the few known taxes collections technique but surely there may be many more. Similar story is with Police check posts, transport authorities mobile posts, taxation department sleuths and if occasion permits some people (employees of the Govt road maintenance department) may collect 5 to 8 persons form within same labourers borrow them their tools and start repairing slide area(s) or potholes and in turn ask donations from car/truck/bus drivers by force; if persuasion fails, because they are rendering uncalled for, self-oriented social service. How great they are! Real sympathisers!!

Similar stories though on lesser scale make rounds on NH 53, NH 150 or call it ganja route is reserved for carrying out survey only as & when NH 39/50 fails and come under fire and thousands of rupees are spent on self imposed survey (which include drinking scotch whiskies at nights) & inspection tours expenditures (No report, No action, No discussion, NO queries).

NH 150 remains alive. You are also sustaining many. Then forget about it once there are 15 days supplies/FOL available in Imphal market /Govt stock. Govt does not suffer, bureaucrats, SFs do not suffer, rich man does not suffer (his mineral water can still come by air). Only poor suffer & will remain sufferers. Who bothers for the people? Only Security Forces ! If medicines go out of stock it is Army at highest level who have to arrange AN 12 crafts for people.

If petrol, diesel runs short, people who have contacts with SFs approach them for FOL. How they arrange nobody bothers. They purchase for them from open market at Dimapur, maintain separate records and help the neediest/their contacts, of course on payment. But can this arrangement be done for all the 1, 34,000 owners of vehicles of all sorts. One wonders! See the long queues of four wheelers & two wheelers on days of issue of petrol/diesel, it runs into average one km to 1 ½ even when there is no blockade now.

Then what is the answer?? Sounds simple may be difficult – Just read the following lines :-
a) Do not blame the NHs. They are providing 'nishpaksh sewa' irrespective of Nagas-Meities- Kukis & others. Blame the three Govts—GoM, GoN, GoI. You select any which suites you? May be all.
b) There are 8 IRB Battalions each in Manipur/ Nagaland. Name indicates they are national forces (India Reserve Bn) but work wise they are regional. Even in deployment, CSO's in Hill District do not accept them and Govt caves in. What a dare governance !
c) Are the Students Bodies (who are supposed to be in schools/colleges) though unarmed fit to fight with IRB personnel ?
If not so, then why Nagaland Govt hesitate to employ them in their zone and Manipur in own zone. It will enable both HW remain open, and available for repair, construction & maintenance.
d) If IRB performs without discrimination and with dedication it may also generate goodwill. Why Govts should give retreat call when they are supposed to act?
e) Govts of Nagaland & Manipur do not have to consult NSF/UNC.

Angami Peoples Org and Mao Maram peoples org may alone have to be taken into consultation since these two sets of people are co-affected for example—
(i) NO traffic means NO ACTIVITY, road stretches remain deserted.
(ii) The blame on behalf of NSF which means all Nagaland including Tikhirs-Konyaks-Yimchungers- Khiamugans-Changs-Sangtams-Phoms-Ao) who never physically take part in bandh/blockade on NH but are inherently taken as 'partners' of blockade(s) also get blame equally and it depicts picture in New Delhi as all pervasives same is about Manipur for similarly oriented organizations. Hill tribes/sub tribes and valley based student's bodies who are regional in essence but yet claim to be of all State, leave their credentials questionable.

What does NH 39 have to say?

"I will remain no more mute observer & absorber of shockwaves generated by blame games. I love all human equally. I never refuse anyone using my surface. I would rather love you to feed me with abundance of love and take hate element away from your minds. Now since situation has been created of putting me on switch off mode, I also need recharging of my energies not for 52/65 days of disturbed rest but minimum of six months. Weather is also inclement.

Clear weather will be approaching soon with crystalled visions, so please let me have rest & recoup. After my surface is done up, massaging completed, please restart running over my body smoothly. Do not ever impose Bandh on me, I feel bad & sad. Moveover with archaic extended arms in love—Hi! listen further, "I am the most vital link of linking people for linkages. Never ever use me as a dumping ground by throwing kidnapped later dead on my body.

Never loot any traveller , it is against sanctity of faith. If you adhere to what I say and as I expect of good citizens, I assure you, tourists will flow in, there will be good hotels, motels, workshops enroute. And if 'thuggery'—extortions go away really RH(s) will come up. I wish to join you in your joys & laughs. Promise, you will not force me to go in comma again. Remember your life & association with me is too short and don't make it shorter by breaking off. I have to carry on. So keep me in good mood and shape for rendering service in a most congenial, cozy atmosphere. Let dissenting resentments meet as an apogee of appraisal and understanding guided by ethical, human & environmental sensitivity as the noblest personification of the best in human nature which I can vouch you all are."

Author's note : - Whatsoever be the guiding factor both HWs are very important. No Govt should allow any organisation (frontal or shadow) to allow any disruption of traffic on NH. No restrictions be imposed on transporters on use of a particular Highway. Even if NHPF come up that will also consist of similar persons same flesh, same blood. Let people to people contact (s) be encouraged.

Politics of any sort to make demands considered be not with putting 'aam admi' into a state of quandary. Quiddity demands both Governments of Manipur & Nagaland not to go quieten but mutually grant 'quid pro quo' and open NH39 in honourable considerations of the times which is the essence of an egalitarian/governance for which Nagaland share is more.

Both CM's along with Home Minister (GOI) be made to fly in a helicopter over NH53 to appraise them of the ground realities how difficult it is to travel on that highway that too during monsoons—forget about ferrying the supplies. Thereafter Union Minister may be explained of Makru R bridge too low which will be lifted up dictated by railway alignment coupled by Tipaimukh Dam compulsions.

Govt of Manipur must appreciate limitations of BRTF, give them sound protection open civil police outposts temporarily along HW till road & bridges at Barak & Makru are suitably done up. PWD have enough roads available to them to display their skills. They have just to shift their area of work from NHs to village sector in valley and interior roads in the Hills.

If nothing comes out then what is the need of having strong federal system of governance at the centre. Let the hypocrisy explode , and the nation be informed that 'vote for frontal organisations only for your own sustenance' as centre's 'Baton of Strength' is for sparing only and not using unless a situation like Maoists extremists in Chhattisgarh (likes) arises.

Is there anyone ready to interpret the reasons of Manipur Governance-cum-bureaucracy going plutocratic and 'aam admi' CSO's quiescent and third party to read it 'all is correct' like 'one of the typical evening report by SM (Subedar Major) to his CO known as OK Report. "Sir one ton skidded off the road, driver got killed, three in serious condition, at Lamkang post one jawan is missing and two NCOs not reported back from leave, das quarter fire se jal gaya, baki sab theek hai Shriman."

After a pause, Co ask him "Saab, what is incorrect in the Battalion jara who bhi bata dijiye" And slang back the phone. I think we are reaching that stage. Koi to bataye yahan kia theek hai? Cooking gas is not available, petrol, diesel is at high price, and fruits are at double the price, one egg cost 8 to 10 rupees Ashshsh..... (concluded)