MDA calls indefinite National Highway 2 bandh
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 21 2022: Manipur Drivers' Association has called an indefinite NH 2 (Imphal-Dimapur highway) bandh from Thursday midnight in protest against seizure of sand (Dimapur sand) laden trucks at Motbung Range Forest Office in Kangpokpi district despite paying fine of Rs 15,000 for not having the transit pass.

Interacting with the media in front of the range office, MDA general secretary Sanjay Kshetrimayum said that for years trucks have been transporting Dimapur sand for construction of private houses and government offices.

But all of a sudden, the range forest office staff seized all such trucks for not having transit pass.

In fact, these trucks have been paying transit fees to the forest gates on their way but the officials posted at those gates refused to provide the transit pass stating that they do not have the authority to issue the pass, which should be generated from a website.

Almost all the drivers and handymen do not have tech knowledge that they could generate the transit pass online.

Besides, there are issues of poor internet connectivity and server downtime of the particular website.

Considering these inconveniences, the drivers have been urging the officials to issue handwritten transit pass as usual.

As the officials posted at those gates are not able to issue the transit pass, they are allowing the trucks to pass with payment of Rs 200 to 300 per forest gate.

Though it is not legal, the system has been in operation for long, Sanjoy pointed out.

He further said that DFO posted at Motbung range forest office seized eight sand trucks on Wednesday.

Two of the trucks have paid Rs 15,000 fine each.

However, the forest officials unloaded the sand and have been refusing to release the seized sand and trucks even after paying the fine.

Terming it as an act of harassment, he said that MDA in association with Senapati District Truck Owners' Association and Senapati District Truck Drivers' Union have decided to impose indefinite bandh along the highway from Thursday midnight until the seized trucks and sand are released.

He, however, said that there will be a 48-hour relaxation period for passenger buses and wingers.

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