MHA seeks NH-39 status report
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 11 2010: The Ministry of Home Affairs has been repeatedly asking the State Government whe-vehicular movement along Imphal-Dimapur section of NH-39 has resumed or not.

According to a high-ranking official in the Home Department, the Ministry of Home Affairs has been persistently asking about movement of vehicles along NH-39 .

To this, State Government has informed the Centre that just around 20 vehicles have been travelling along the route in a day.

The Ministry of Home Affairs have already intimated the State Government that Central par-military forces being deployed along the highway for protection of vehicles along the route would be withdrawn if Manipur vehicles would not take the highway.

The obstacles put up on NH-39 during the tension filled days

The Central para-military forces have not been withdrawn till date at the assurance of the State Government that some vehicles have been plying along the route and that it would not be advisable to withdraw the security forces in view of the prevailing situation along the highway.

On the other hand, traffic along Imphal-Jiribam highway has been halted due to extremely bad condition at different portions compounded by excess rainfall.

A vehicle which broke down in the middle of the highway between Keimai and Barak has been blocking the route.

As such, around half of the goods laden trucks which left Jiribam for Imphal on July 9 are lying stranded near Shanti Khunou, reports our Jiribam correspondent.

Another 100 goods laden trucks including petrol tankers and LPG carriers bound for Imphal are presently stranded at Jiribam.

It is reported that both Assam Rifles and CRPF have been assisting in repairing the highway using excavators and bull dozers.

Meanwhile, inter-State passenger buses which left Imphal for Jiribam today were made to turn back from Nungba by security forces in view of the condition of the said highway at different points.