Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 29 2010:
The Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA) has re-affirmed its earlier decision of imposing five days bandh with effect from January 30 mid-night which would be followed by indefinite economic blockade along NH-39 in protest against the repeated and abject failure of the State Government to repair and develop NH-39 .
A press release issued by the student body said that medical, religious purposes, education, fire service, military, electricity and press would be exempted from the purview of the bandh.
Reacting to a press release issued by the State Government and published in The Sangai Express on January 24, the SDSA asked the State Government as to why it cannot respect the numerous agreements and MoUs signed after every course of agitation.
Questioning where have all the funds sanctioned by the Centre for NH-39 disappeared, the student body posed whether the Government is perpetually neglecting certain portion of the highway.
It further sought attention of the Government to compare those portions of NH 39 in the valley and Senapati district.
It went on to ask as to why the sanctioned amount of Rs 39.25 crores could not incorporate the provision of black-topping but only laying premix when the NH-39 is in such a state of deplorable condition.
It also questioned about the PWD tender 9 (dated December 1, 2009) which is pending without initiating any process till date.
Recalling that the Works Minister and the PWD Chief Engineer had personally assured the SDSA to develop NH-39 fully within the dry season.
The State Govt's appeal to abstain from agitation and strikes does not justify the utter negligence of NH-39, the lifeline of the State, it asserted.
Demanding immediate hand-over of NH 39 to the BRO, the SDSA maintained that the Chief Minister, the Works Minister and the Department concerned should be held responsible for any untoward incident during the course of the scheduled agitation.
Meanwhile, the Senapati District Women Association, Manipur has pledged support to the bandh being called by SDSA.
Likewise, the Manipur Drivers' Welfare Association, the Senapati District Truck Owners' Association and the Senapati-Karong Area Women Welfare Association have declared unstinted support to the bandh.