3 check posts on Mao-Imphal road : Mao folks set to get trading places
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 07 2015 :
Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Gaikhangam has categorically stated that there are only three authorised police check-posts between Mao and Imphal.
If police personnel are taking money from traders/commuters/transporters other than at Mao Gate, Kangpokpi and Sekmai, then it is illegal.
If police personnel are taking money in unauthorised manner, one should inform the nearest police station or the DGP directly, Gaikhangam stated in response to a call attention motion raised by MLA L Ibomcha.
Raising the call attention motion, Ibomcha offered to give money to police if they must take money from the people of Mao who come to Imphal to market their agricultural produces.
Earlier, Mao people used to market their agricultural produces at Kohima and people from Kohima came to Mao to buy vegetables.
But this trading practice has been suspended following the stand-off over Dzuko Valley.
Even as Mao people have been given an area for marketing their produces at Imphal, they are being forced to spend more money on entertaining police demands than the transport fares.
Reminding that the Deputy Chief Minister himself had earlier pledged on the floor of the House to reduce police checkings on highways, Ibomcha stated that he is ready to pay unauthorised taxes to police if they must take money from Mao people.
Lauding the help given by civil society organisations to Mao people in arranging a place for marketing their produces at Nagamapal, Gaikhangam informed that he has been consulting with the Chief Minister to allot a marketing place to Mao people on road sides either at Nagamapal or Dingku Road.
Plans are also afoot to construct a market complex at the plot of Apex Cooperative godown, Chingmeirong with monetary assistance from the NEC.
Land acquisition process for the market complex which would be constructed with Tribal Affairs and Hills as the implementing agency is almost complete.
Once the market complex is constructed, not only Mao people but other hill people can market their produces at the complex, Gaikhangam added.