Imphal, November 16 2008: MOTORBOAT operators on the waterway located between Tipaimukh and Jirighat of Churachnadpur district have been facing inconvenience owing the non-introduction of motorboat registration system by the state transport department.

Hueiyen Lanpao has learnt that the best, cheapest and most convenience transport communication of the people of the villages located between Tipaimukh and Jirighat is the waterway in Barak river but the same become so much inconveniences to the people of the area after the deployment of security forces there.

The traveling on this waterway is a long practice since time immemorial.

Security forces have been deploying there in the Barak River course for checking the movement of militants in the area located in the interior hilly terrace and they have been conducting frisking and checking to the movement of motorboats.

Reports received from the area said that people residing in the area use to travel upto Silcher from their respective villages with motorboats.

They buy their essential goods in Silcher and also sale their produces.

As many as 50 to 60 motorboats are servicing in the route on the Manipur side.

Even though people from Manipur side have been operating motorboat services in the area, army had forced to stop them reportedly for not bearing registration number and the advantage of the same is being taken by the motorboat operators from the Assam side.

They intruded into the water route from the Assam side and transporting the people to Silcher which is a heavy blow to the people of Manipur side as it amount to cutting of earning ways for them.

As they could not cross to Assam, people preferred to travel with the motorboats from Assam side.

There is also a feeling to the people there that they are intentionally restricted by the army and favuoring to the motorboat operators from the Assam.

The matter was also brought up the matter to the state Assembly by the local MLA of the area, Ngushanggur during a sitting in the recent time urging the state government to introduce giving of registration number to the motorboats but so far no action seen taken up even though government assured of looking after the matter.

Comment