Transporters in dire straits
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 27 2014: Following cancellation of transport contract by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for ferrying rice and other essential items from Jiribam to Imphal, truck drivers have been pushed to a precarious situation.

Speaking to media persons at their MG Avenue office today, All Manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor Workers Union general secretary Hamom Kullamani said that out of 300 trucks which left Imphal for Jiribam on August 22 with security escorts could reach Jiribam only today due to the extremely bad condition of the highway.

In the midst of all the hardships endured by the transporters, the FCI cancelled transport contract for transhipment of goods along Imphal-Jiribam highway leaving truck drivers in quandary.

An order issued by the Executive Director of FCI Guwahati Zone on August 25 cancelled the transport contract for transportation of rice and other essential commodities from Jiribam to Imphal.

In spite of the deplorable condition of NH 37 (Imphal-Jiribam highway), transporters started ferrying of goods along the highway since 2010.Now majority of the transporters are taking NH 37 because of frequent harassment including killing of drivers and their helpers and highway robbery along Imphal-Dimapur highway, Kullamani said.

He also decried the decision of the concerned authority to close Lamding-Badarpur railway track for six months with effect from October 1 for upgrading the railway track into broad gauge.

The union would launch all kinds of agitation including prevention of all unloading activities at FCI go-downs starting from the day the railway track is closed.

Transporters and Drivers Council Manipur vice-president Th Ibohal reminded that the State was advised to create buffer stock of essential commodities ahead of October 1 but before any buffer stock could be created, transport contract has been cancelled.

Cancellation of transport contract with immediate effect appeared to be some sinister conspiracy.

Apart from the hardships caused to truck drivers, the FCI's hasty decision would ignite a crisis of food shortage in Manipur, Ibohal cautioned.

The matter demands immediate attention of concerned authorities of both the State Government and the Government of India, he added.

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