Transporters asked to stop rice transhipment on NH 37
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 24 2014:
As directed by the Guwahati based FCI zonal office, transhipment of FCI rice along Jiribam-Imphal highway (NH 37) may be ceased from August 26 .
People of Manipur are already enduring shortage of fuel and the FCI zonal office's new directive would be only multiplying the plight of people.
On August 23, the Guwahati based FCI zonal office intimated FCI rice transporters of the State to stop ferrying rice along Imphal-Jiribam highway whilst movement of trucks along Imphal-Dimapur highway was paralysed due to communal violence in Golaghat district of Assam, sources informed.
Incidentally, the Manipur Truck Owners' Welfare Association started ferrying FCI rice along Jiribam-Imphal highway since 2010 .
Between 2011 and 2013, FCI regional office based of Nagaland gave transport contract to Dimapur based WI Enterprises but in many instances rice consignments vanished enroute to Imphal.
In spite of this detestable track-record, WI Enterprises has been given transport contract for 2014 to 2016.As such, there is strong apprehension that Imphal would not receive the full share of the State's rice allocation.
Such dubious dealing of FCI regional authorities should be checked in time and the State Government should intervene in the matter so as to ensure that the State get its full share of rice quota.
The notification issued by the Guwahati based zonal office's executive director to stop rice transportation along Imphal-Jiribam highway is a direct challenge to Manipuri people's right to life, said the sources.
On the other, the ban imposed by the Transporters and Drivers Council (TDC) since 2010 on movement of goods carriers along Imphal-Dimapur highway is still in force.
There have been instances where drivers and helpers travelling along Imphal-Dimapur highway were harassed and even killed apart from setting ablaze their vehicles.
The sources further questioned if the FCI has any agenda behind its new initiative to restrict transportation rice on Imphal-Dimapur highway alone after closing Imphal-Jiribam highway to FCI rice transporters.
Giving rice transport contract to WI Enterprises which appeared to be a conspiracy hatched between FCI Nagaland regional office and a UG group based in Nagaland would create artificial food scarcity in Manipur for WI Enterprises has a dubious precedent.
The matter must be investigated thoroughly by CBI, the sources added.