75 days of bandhs/blockades so far
Rs 2,050 crores wasted during last six months
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 13, 2013: Even as the Supreme Court of India has declared calling of bandhs and blockades as illegal and directed the concerned authorities to take up stern actions against the perpetrators, the Government of Manipur has not been able to do anything even though State has experienced 75 days of bandhs and blockades from January 1 to July 13, 2013. According to an estimation made by Statistics Department three years back, the State Government suffered a loss of over Rs 30 crores on daily basis on account of bandh and blockade.

It is said that imposition of bandh and blockade along Imphal-Moreh road alone led to loss of more than Rs 15 crores daily.

Though no estimate has been worked out during the last two years, the loss is expected to be doubled of the amount calculated three years back.

Moreover, it is expected the loss suffered by the State economy from frequently imposition of bandh and blockade in the last six months may be crossing Rs 2,050 crores.

During the last six months (January 1 to July 13, 2013), there were in all 75 days of bandhs/blockades called by different organizations of the hill areas on various issues.

The most number of bandhs and blockades during this period have been called by CSOs of Kukis.

Economic blockade along NH 37 was called by Zeliangrong Students Union Manipur from January 1 to January 3.After that Hill Tribal Council, Moreh called bandh in Moreh town from January 14 to 15.A general strike was also called by ATSUM from January 18 to 19 this year.

The Kuki State Demand Committee also called a public curfew along all the NHs of the State from January 24 to 28.ATSUM followed up their agitation with closure of all national projects taken up in the State from February 3 to 10.And, on February 9, Transporters and Drivers' Council, Manipur called an 18-hour bandh.

All Manipur VDF Welfare Association called a statewide bandh on February 13 and it was followed by another bandh called by All Tribal Disable Union in all the five hill districts from February 17 to 18.The Transporter Driver Council Manipur launched a cease work strike on February 20.ATSUM also called yet another bandh on February 20 and 21.A total bandh in all the Kuki inhabited areas was called by Kuki State Demand Committee from February 24 to 28. The Hill Tribal Council Moreh called a two-day bandh from March 12 and it was followed by another 24-hour bandh called by JAC Against the Killing of Thokchom Kiran from March 19.Another blockade was launched by the Zeliangrong bodies from March 27 to 29 in all the Zeliangrong i nhibited areas.

The JAC Against the Brutal Killing of Ningombam Satyabhama called a Manipur Bandh from April 6 to 8.From April 13 to 18, the JAC Against the Brutal Killing of Md Sana called a bandh and it was immediately followed by two-day "Chaka Bandh" of All Manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor Workers Union from April 19.On April 20, another bandhwas called by JAC Against the brutal Killing of Truck Driver Asem Babu.

Bandh along the Imphal-Moreh was called by Chandel Naga People's Organisation from April 19 to 25.Again, from April 21 to May 2, bandh along both the NHs of the State by the Zeliangrong bodies was called.

The Kuki organizations also called a series of bandhs and blockades in Chandel district last month.

Indo-Myanmar Border trade activities always remained badly hit whenever there are bandh/blockades in the State and all types of bandhs or blockades called in the State always include Imphal-Moreh road.

With the loss in the border trade activities during bandh and blockades along Imphal-Moreh road estimated to be around Rs 15 crores daily, there are apprehensions that the focus of the border trade activities at Moreh may be shifted to elsewhere.

Comment