Imphal, July 04, 2010: To take stock of the persisting crisis resulting from acute shortage of all essential commodities including petroleum products in Manipur even after the blockades on the National Highways have been lifted, Joint Secretary (Home) and FCI officials are scheduled to come to the State on July 6. On the other hand, following suspension of rice transportation, FCI godown at Imphal is now literally empty.The scheduled visit of the Central team was planned after the Chief Minister talked with the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister and the Union Transport Minister about development of NH-53 and the persisting crisis in Manipur, conveyed an official source.

Joint Secretary (Home) and North East in-charge Naveen Verma, Executive Director of FCI Hqs Dr Amar Singh would be leading the Central who are arriving at Imphal on July 6.They will hold a meeting with FCI transporters and officials in the Chief Minister�s office chamber on the same day and discuss the scarcity of rice and sugar in Manipur.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister O Ibobi who has been at New Delhi for the last few days arrived today.

Notably, the Transporters� and Drivers� Council have been refusing to resume transport service along NH-39 demanding compensation for the damages and casualty suffered along the highway together a concrete assurance that no more illegal taxes would be collected along the highway.

Much earlier before the prolonged highway blockade was imposed, transportation of rice from Dimapur was suspended since the first week of April following a demand of Rs 50 lakhs made by an insurgent group to FCI transporters.

After holding a meeting on the matter with the Chief Secretary in the chair on April 5, the State Government decided to give adequate security escorts but none of the FCI transporters came forward to lift rice from the Dimapur godown.

However, 80 truck loads of rice were brought to Imphal under an arrangement made by Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department.

Considering the extra transport costs that would be incurred in transporting rice from Jiribam and Silchar, the State Government, acting on the request of transporters, appealed to the FCI to revise the existing transportation rate.

But the State Government did not receive any positive response.

With transportation of rice ceased for the last few months, there is no rice stock at Imphal FCI godown, added the source.

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