Imphal, August 24 2009: The State Government has made necessary arrangements to provide 'dedicated security escorts' so as to ensure safe transportation of FCI goods to Imphal along NH-39 .

This was decided during a meeting held on August 22 and presided by Transport Minister L Jayantakumar, said an official source.

The meeting was attended by officials of the Police Department, Transport Department, FCI, FCS and representatives of FCI transporters.

Notably, due to bandhs/economic blockades on NH-39, transportation of FCI rice to Imphal was suspended for a long time.

Moreover, sugar quota allotted to Manipur has been given to Nagaland, as the same could not be lifted due to bandhs and blockades.

The meeting decided to provide dedicated security escorts to FCI transporters with immediate effect and also to put all police stations along the highway on high alert.

Under the new arrangement, ROPs would be deployed at strategic points along NH-39 .

The meeting also agreed to send an intimation to the DGP about these decisions.

The departure time from Khatkhati to Mao, with security escorts provided by Nagaland Police, would be changed from 7 am to 4 am.

After arrival at Mao at 8 am, the transporters would be escorted till Imphal by State security forces.

The new arrangement would reduce the number of days needed to bring FCI goods to Imphal, conveyed the source.

To implement the new arrangement smoothly, two cranes with the capacity of 10 tonnes would be handed over to the SP of Senapati district so that any vehicle which breaks down on the way can be pulled to safety.

The two cranes are currently with Police Department and Transport Dept.

It is said that the new arrangement would certainly help in enhancing FCI stocks at Imphal.

Due to incompatibility in the schedules, during which security escorts are provided by Nagaland Police and Manipur Police, oil tankers have to put up at Mao gate for two days unnecessarily.

To remove such unnecessary delays and inconveniences, the Indian Oil Corporation has asked the State DGP to take up the matter with his Nagaland counterpart, added the source.

Chakka bandh called off : The indefinite chakka bandh imposed on NH-39 and NH-53 by the All Manipur Petroleum Tanker Drivers' Union, All Manipur Inter State Bus Association, Imphal-Silchar Road Transporters Welfare Society, Manipur Driver Welfare Society and the JAC Moreh Road Transporters has been called off.

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