TDC backs MTOWA stand on PDS item shipment
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 03 2012:
Reacting to the statement by the FCI General Manager, Regional Office Dimapur with regard to allocation of rice to Manipur, the Transporters' and Drivers' Council dismissed the GM's clarification as unjustifiable and self-contradictory.
A council statement issued by its general secretary Ng Haridas Singh conveyed that as per copy of the Road Movement Programme for the month of June 2012 issued by the GM, there is huge disparity in the allocation of rice quota meant for transportation on the DimapurImphal route and Jiribam-Imphal route.
While the allocation to the Dimapur-Imphal (Sangaiprou) transporters is 11,000 metric tonne, which stands at 1221 truck-loads, only 3450 metric tonne has been assigned for transporters who prefer Imphal-Jiribam route, highlighted the Council.
Expressing awe on the GM's assertion that 9217 MT rice are already in stock at Sangaiprou godown with another load of 2947 MT at Koirengei godown, the Council pointed out that the total of 12,164 MT rice in these godowns will last for only about one and half month.
rice stock for Manipur lying at Dimapur, Jiribam or Ukhrul also cannot be counted as the stock available for the State, for unpredictable events/incidents such as bandh, blockade or landslide will certainly hamper transportation to the State, observed the Council.
with reference to another claim of the GM, Haridas posed as to why there should be disparity in the allocation of the rice quotas to the two transport agencies when it is well aware that truckers wish to ply on the Imphal-Jiribam route than trouble-prone Imphal-Dimapur section.
He further demanded that Railway authorities should clarify its position on the GM's contention that rice quota for transportation through rail-line upto Jiribam has been reduced at the instruction of the Railways.
Accusing the Regional Office GM of being biased and acting at the behest of certain elements with vested interest, Haridas suggested that the Road Movement Programme be amended in such a manner that the allocation is of equal proportion and not otherwise.
Drawing the attention of the Chief Minister and urging for intervention on the issue at the earliest, the council cautioned that failure to act in a positive way might constrain transporters under the Council not to bring/unload goods at Sangaiprou and Koirengei godowns.
TDC further reminded that due to its persistence and resilience development of the Imphal-Jiribam section of National Highway-53 is being taken initiated in a positive manner.