Ensure safe passage of Meitei civilians along NH 37, appeal MCJ, WMC Jiribam
Source: The Sangai Express
Jiribam, August 20 2023:
Highlighting the constraint on movement of Meitei passengers along the Jiri-Imphal highway (NH-37) since the eruption of violence on May 3, the Meetei Convention Jiribam and World Meetei Council, Jiribam District Council have urged the State and Central Government to take up measures to ensure safe passage of Meitei civilians along the highway.
Speaking to media persons in this regard during a press conference held at Lainingthou Sanamahi Laishang, Lairembi Leikai in Jiribam district, W Dinesh Meetei, general secretary, MCJ, stated that the inability of Meitei passengers to travel along NH-37 has posed a slew of inconveniences to the people, including the Meitei community settled outside the State.
The situation has forced people to avail the helicopter service or take flights from Silchar to Imphal.
Both of these are costly endeavours and a burden to impoverished families, he remarked.
Urging the State and Central Government to secure safe passage of Meitei passengers along NH-37, he cautioned that otherwise the MCJ in cooperation with the public of Jiribam will impose a blockade on movement of all manners of passenger traffic along NH-37 .
Separately, he pointed out that during such volatile times, the post of Jiribam Deputy Commissioner has remained vacant since August 10 .
Stating that this has hindered administration works in Jiribam, he also expressed worry that it could lead to certain dangerous situations in the district inhabited by diverse communities.
Thus, he appealed to the State Government to fill up the vacancy promptly and alleviate the worries of the public.
He further pointed out that the helicopter service fare charged for a trip from Jiribam to Imphal is much higher than helicopter service charges in other districts.
"The fare was hiked during Covid pandemic but has not been reduced till now.
I urge the State Government to fix a reasonable fare for the helicopter service", he said.
Separately, the World Meetei Council, Jiribam District Council has shared its plan to submit a memorandum to the Union Home Ministry to make arrangements for tightened security measures to resume bus and train services and ensure that Meitei passengers can travel along the NH-37 freely.
K Ratan Singh, vice president, WMC, Jiribam District Council shared this information during a press meet held at Jiri News Network Conference Hall, Babupara under Jiribam district today.
Saying that India is a nation with huge potential to become a global superpower, he urged the Indian Government to address the issue of illegal immigration which is a pertinent problem for the country.
Further, he said that a memorandum had been submitted in the past to the Ministry of Railway to resume Guwahati to Jiribam train service.
Further he made an appeal to the relevant authority to take up steps to bring about speedy completion of the Jiribam to Imphal Railway Project.
The press meet was also attended by S Lalmmani Singha, president, WMC Jiribam District Council; L Ranjan, joint secretary and N Samuel, treasurer.