Imphal, June 23 2010: The transport contractors of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has urged the authority concerned that they will not be able to transport rice in view of the prevailing grave law and order situation in the state.

According to the rice transporters, the easiest way of transporting rice is through the NH-39 .

But due to stiff opposition from certain quarter to ply transport vehicles on this highway passing through Nagaland, it is practically impossible for them to transport rice.

On the NH 53, it is prohibited to ply vehicle with a freight weighing more than 9 tonnes as per the Motor Vehicles Act.

Usually the combine weight of the transport vehicle and its freight is more than 16 tonnes.

This restriction is not there in the NH 39.The weight of the freight that can be transported in the NH 39 can be up to 20 tonnes without counting the weight of the vehicle.

FCI had appointed four transport contractors for Manipur.

They are Asui Enterprises, Northern Agency, Ramu Enterprises and North East Trading.

Asui Enterprises is owned by the NSCN(IM) leader Th.Muivah's brother Asui Muivah.

Northern Agency is owned by one Bisopao of Senapati.

Ramu Enterprises is in the name of one Naga.

North East Trading is owned by one Doren.

The selection of FCI transport contractors is done at Dimapur.

During the selection process different underground organizations exercise undue pressures on FCI officials and they even bribe them.

The current transport contractors were selected as a result of the illegal influences of the underground elements.