Imphal, September 06: A two-day long seminar on the impact of bandhs and blockades has begun from today under the aegis of Department of Information and Public Relations at State Guest House here with resource persons suggesting enactment of a special law to prevent such agitations.

The inaugural function of the seminar being participated by representatives of student and teachers' bodies, civil organisations, businessmen, social workers, Government servants, journalists and senior citizens was attended by Information Minister TN Haokip as chief guest and Information Commissioner P Bharat as president.

It may be noted here that the State had suffered a loss of Rs 2,355.39 crores as a consequence of the bandh and blockades called in Manipur for 20 days during 2004-05, 45 days during 2005-06, 98 days during 2006-07 and 52 days during 2007-08. Speaking as chief guest of the function, Minister TN Haokip described bandh and blockade as the greatest enemy of the people of Manipur and said that the future of Manipur today depends on bandh and blockade.

While observing that the sponsors of bandhs and blockades should be held accountable, the Minister pointed that the directive of the Supreme Court in this regard.

Additional DGP (Intelligence) A Romenkumar, who presented a paper on the topic of 'Bandh and blockade and its remedy' during the seminar held with retired IAS officer and chairman of District Council Delimitation Committee Ch Birendra as moderator, pointed out that judiciary has stepped in declaring bandh and blockade as illegal and unconstitutional in view of the problems created to free movement of the people.

He proposed that holding the sponsors of bandhs and blockades accountable for the loss suffered may discourage others from taking recourse to such agitations.

However, even if there is such a law in place in Manipur, it has not been implemented effectively, he noted, while observing that even if the menace of bandhs and blockades could not be wiped out completely, existence of an effective governance may control the situation to some extent.

Political will, administrative acumen and implementation of the relevant legislation is essential to make it work, he added.

The president of District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum Ch Narendra also presented a paper on 'Bandh and blockade - a legal point of view' during the first day of the seminar today.

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