Imphal, November 21, 2009: Exploring the woefully bad condition of the Imphal-Mao section of the NH-39, the lifeline of the people of the state, the All Manipur Road Transport Drivers' & Motor Workers' Union has endorsed the proposed highway bandh from midnight of November 26 till midnight of next day called by the Senapati District Students' Association.

The Senapati District Students' Association, mention may be made here that has threatened to impose a 24-hour bandh from midnight of November 26 till midnight of next day on the stretch of the NH-39 if the authority resumes the repairing works of the highway.

The condition of the NH-39 is so bad that one could hard to assume whether it is a road or river, stated a press handout of the driver's body signed by its joint secretary, Maimom Anil, drawing the attention of the government.

Due to accumulation of dust, the visibility while driving on his road has become a problem.

As such the stretch of the highway becomes a accident prone place.

Ninety percent of drivers died were victims of road accident on this highway.

Government is seems to forget that all requirement right from essential commodities to clothing items were transported on this road.

Like the SDSA knows the woe of the drivers, government also knows it and takes up appropriate action, the AMRTD & MWU pleaded.

It is pertinent to mention that president of the SDSA, Prokrehrii Khrasi had on November 19 last observed that even though state government had assured of completing the repairing works of the stretch of the highway by November, the works had been remaining suspended after clearing of roadside drainage and singling started.

While putting down other demands of the SDSA, he said, with the completion of the repairing works of the highway, authority should also immediately distributes PDA items of Karong, Mao and Tadubi Assembly constituencies, provides security for opening SBI branch office at Tadubi and opens of a fire service sub-station at Tadubi.

The PDS items for Karong Kendra has not been distributing for the last 11 months while that of Mao and Tadubi Kendras for nine months, he revealed.

Recalling that the students' body with the support of various civil organizations had called blockade on the NH-39 in November 2007, but it was called off on its fifth day after authority assured of immediate start of the improvement work of the highway.

Non-translation of the assurance into work, another blockade in November 2008 which lasted for about 20 days was imposed.

As a result of the stir, state works minister, K Ranjit, Tribal Development minister DD Thaisii with some MLAs signed a memorandum of understanding with the SDSA which government agreed to complete the repairing works by 2008 and starts improvement work from early part of 2009 and completes it in the same year.

After government not translated the agreement into work, in July this year, another stir of blocking the road highway commenced from July 25.It was ended after Union Home Secretary, GK Pillai who visited in Senapati assured of early translation into works to their demand on August 23.

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