Tanker drivers launch cease work strike
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 09 2019:
Drivers of tankers engaged in transportation of petroleum and petroleum products along Imphal-Dimapur highway have launched cease work strike work from today on the ground that the highway is now too risky for them.
Speaking to media persons at Mantripukhri today, All Manipur Petroleum Products Drivers Association's most senior driver N Chaoba said that landslide affected portions of the highway at Nagaland's Jotsoma and Lalmati have not been fully restored while a large section of the highway has deteriorated to the extreme on account of rainfall.
Meanwhile, the highway is being expanded to four lanes from Patkai College to Kukidolong.
As such, the same section is closed to all types of vehicles from 10.30 pm to 5 am.
Given this regulation, loaded tankers which leave Khatkhati at 7 pm for Imphal have been moving hurriedly to cross the Patkai College-Kukidolong section by 10.30 pm.
Even after this section is crossed, the tanker drivers have to negotiate and cross another section which has been badly damaged by landslides during night.
As such, the highway is posing serious risks to all tanker drivers, Chaoba said.
In case, tanker convoys are not in position to cross Patkai College-Kukidolong section by 10.30 pm, they must wait till 5 o'clock of the next morning together with the CRPF personnel escorting them.
Given this difficult and risky situation which is unlikely to improve any time soon, tanker drivers have resolved to cease their normal operations until an alternative is arranged by the Government, he added.