TDC questions Govt's inaction
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 12 2015 :
Pointing out that transport contractors have not been selected till date whereas more than 5000 metric tonnes of rice stocked at Jiribam have been left there rather than transporting the commodity up to FCI's Sangaiprou godown, the Transporters and Drivers Council (TDC) has questioned if the State Government has a secret agenda behind its reluctance to intervene.
Speaking to some media persons today, TDC president H Ranjit asked why rice, the State's staple food, stocked at Jiribam godown to its full capacity, is not transported up to the State capital along Imphal-Jiribam highway.
The Jiribam FCI godown of 5000 metric tonnes capacity is now loaded with more than 5000 metric tonnes of rice.
But the rice bags have been left there rather than transporting them up to Imphal.
It looks like there is a hidden agenda behind leaving rice grains at Jiribam and non-appointment of transport contractors for a protracted period.
On the other hand, trucks registered outside the State have been transshipping rice along Imphal-Dimapur highway at a much higher transport fare.
But for best reasons known to them, FCI has been prohibiting rice transportation on Imphal-Jiribam highway.
For this, FCI authorities are answerable to the people of Manipur.
FCI has been playing with the lives of transporters and workers of Manipur since August last year as if they have no dignity at all.
Even though FCI has been acting at their fancies and whims, the Government of Manipur conspicuously prefers to act mute and blind.
Empathising with the woes of transporters, the Chief Minister and the relevant Minister should urge visiting Union Ministers to re-start transshipment of rice along Imphal-Jiribam highway as soon as possible, Ranjit urged.
If the transporters are not allowed to resume their normal service on Imphal-Jiribam highway at the earliest, pre-paid taxes for six months (November last year to March this year) paid by trucks plying along the highway should be waived.
In case the State Government and the TDC cannot come to some sort of agreement by March 31, all trucks plying on Imphal-Jiribam highway would be driven to the complexes of Transport Department and FCI and all the vehicle documents will be surrendered at the two offices starting from April 1, Ranjit said.