JACC extends NH-37 blockade to seven days
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 14 2023:
As a meeting between leaders of the Joint Action Co-ordinating Committee (JACC) NH-37 and works minister Govindas Konthoujam over the deplorable condition of the highway failed to reach an agreement on Thursday, the JACC has resolved to continue the shutdown of NH 37 for seven days.
The JACC team on Thursday came to meet chief minister N Biren over the poor condition of the highway between New Keithelmanbi and Oriental College gate.
As they could not meet the CM, they went to the official residence of works minister Govindas Konthoujam at Babupara, where the JACC team had a meeting with the minister.
During the meeting, the JACC team aired their grievances and inconveniences owing to the bad shape of the highway and submitted a memorandum demanding early repairing of the highway.
Interacting with the media after the meeting, JACC convenor N Surjit said that the minister told them that there is no provision in the state government for repairing the highway as its responsibility lies with NH1DCL.Even if the state government wants to take over the project from NHIDCL, it will take at least six months, the minister conveyed and assured of giving a proper response to the memorandum within seven days, Surjit said.
Considering the situation and lack of concrete response from the government, the JACC has decided to continue the NH 37 shutdown for seven days.
Ihe JACC will also launch intense form of protest if the government fails to give a positive response within the seven days, he added.
Meanwhile, over 400 goods-laden trucks transporting essential commodities from Silchar, Assam into Imphal are reportedly stranded on the NH-37 due to the bandh call in Khumbong area, a distance of around nine km in the Imphal West district.
The blockade has been imposed by the residents residing on both sides of the highway since Wednesday in protest against the deplorable road conditions.
Manipur Drivers' Association (MDA) is supporting the blockade.
Talking to Newsmen, MDA secretary general Ksh Sanjoy asserted that the demand of the bandh callers is the right approach towards the development and repair works of this highway which is a "lifeline" for Manipur especially when the Imphal-Dimapur section of NH-2 faces frequent bandhs and blockades amid the current ethnic conflict between the Meeteis and Kukis.
Amid the bandh call, Chief Minister N Biren chaired a meeting with the officials of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHID-CL) in his Secretariat office on Wednesday wherein the CM reviewed the ongoing expansion and construction of highways in the state on the slide show.