as blockade relaxed for a day
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 07 2008:
AROUND 180 Imphal bound goods ferrying trucks which have been stranded at Mao gate along the NH-39 since the start of the economic blockade exactly a week ago, from November 1 started arriving at Imphal late tonight as the agitating tribal students announced relaxation of their blockade for a day today.
Meanwhile, normal services of the inter-state passenger buses along the NH-39 resumed plying from today as per the announcement made by the All Manipur Inter State Bus Association yesterday.
The Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA) allowed the vehicles after the representatives of the truckers give an assurance that they will extend support to the economic blockade and will suspend plying till the stir ended.
In a talk today between the students body and All Manipur Road Transport and Motor Workers and Drivers Union at Senapati district headquarter, there reached an understanding that the truckers as part of extending support will not ply trucks till there bring about an agreement between the students body and the state government said general secretary, Gunamai of the truckers union over phone.
He said that the union had also decided to extend the support as truckers are also facing the difficulties in plying vehicles and despite repeated call for improvement of this highway from various quarters, the state government remaining in deaf ear.
The Senapati District Students' Association has been imposing the economic blockade on the NH-39 alleging that state government neglected in improving this highway despite its important.
They said deteriorated condition of the road has caused great inconvenieences not only to the highway travelers but also to the people of the Senapati district where maximum portion of the highway in Mainpur passing through.
The section of the NH-39 from Imphal to Maram is under the control of the state PWD while maintenance of the road portion from Maram to Mao gate (upto the Nagaland border) is handling by the Border Road Organization, BRO.
Meanwhile, following the announcement made by the Manipur Inter State Bus Service Association, normal services of the interstate passenger buses plying along the NH-39 resumed from today after two weeks of suspension since October 24 .
The services of the bus suspended decrying the torching of an inter-state bus by cadres of the KLA/KLO that charred to death of two passengers and leave several other passengers with wounds on the night of October 23 .
The decision to resume service was taken after the government assured of security.