Imphal, August 09 2010: As many as 125 loaded truck including oil tankers and bullet tankers arrived at Imphal from Dimapur today with no untoward incident on the NH-39 amid the blockade of the United Naga Council (UNC).

Official source said that among the trucks arrived this afternoon at Imphal, it included 23 oil tankers, 22 bullet tankers and the rest loaded with grocery items.

The trucks cross proceeded Imphal taking the by-pass road at Jotsoma of Nagaland where the traffic on the Kohima-Dimapur section has been closed due to landslide at KMH dumping site for the last around two days.

Meanwhile, a report from Dimapur said that even though the economic blockade launched by the United Naga Council (UNC) continues on National Highway 39, around 60 trucks loaded with rice and sugar left for Imphal from Dimapur depot of Food Corporation of India today.

The consignment of essential commodities is the second in the past nearly four months from Dimapur to Imphal through NH 39.Fourteen trucks meant for Manipur could reach Imphal and Ukhrul after the nearly two month long economic blockade was lifted earlier, the report said.

General Manager, FCI (ANM), Flight Lt.(Retd) M K Gogoi talking to a news agency informed that 14 trucks reached Manipur earlier and today 60 trucks with rice and sugar left for Manipur capital Imphal.

He said that the FCI has no problem in transporting essential commodities to Manipur.

but truckers have decided not to ply through NH-39 after the economic blockade was imposed by the Naga organisations.

Gogoi further disclosed that the road conditions are not good and needs improvement, besides there are other problems concerning providing security cover to the vehicles.

He said that security escorts are being provided to trucks from Dimapur to Imphal.

When asked whether they are planning to transport essential commodities to Manipur through NH-53, as demanded by the State Government, Gogoi said that it depends on the situation, but they would like to see both the routes operational.

He further said that NH-53 is an important route for transport of goods, but road conditions are not at par with the National Highways.

The FCI GM, replying to a query whether there was food scarcity in the Northeastern region, said that there was no question of food scarcity in the region, but the FCI is not able to push the stocks to the respective States.

He said more than 7,000 MT is transported through Railways truckers are reluctant to transport goods from the FCI.

But very soon, we will come out with a solution, he hoped.

He further said that Tripura has more than 12,000 MT of rice stock while stocks are also sufficient in South Assam.

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