Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 22 2010:
In protest against issuing permits to some Tata Wingers by the Directorate of Transport in contradictory to an earlier agreement, Indo-Burma Sugnu Road Bus Owners' Welfare Union has stopped passenger bus services along this route from today.
Talking to mediapersons in this connection at Thoubal Bus Parking, Nityaipat Chuthek here today, secretary of Indo-Burma Sugnu Road Bus Owners' Welfare Union, A Priyokumar informed that the decision to stop passenger service along Indo-Burma Sugnu road for an indefinite period was taken after the Directorate of Transport was found to have issued permits to some Tata Wingers for doing service between Imphal and Pallel and Imphal and Kakching Khunou in violation of an earlier agreement signed between the Union and the Government.
Priyokumar recalled that in a joint meeting held with the Transport Minister and higher officials of the Department last year as well as in August this year, it was agreed that no new permits along this route would be issued and if at all it is necessary then the permits should be issued after obtaining no objection certificates of the Welfare Union.
However, in complete disregard of the said agreement, the Directorate has issued permits to some Tata Wingers, he asserted.
The permits given to five Tata Wingers to ply between Imphal and Kakching Khunou are found to have been issued on the basis of the no objection certificate issued by an organisation called Manipur Transport Co-operative Society while the permits to another five Tata Wingers for doing serving between Imphal and Pallel have been reportedly given at the pressure of Transport Minister through Kakching A/C MLA Y Surchandra, Priyokumar said.
He further said that passenger service along Indo-Burma Sugnu would remain stop till the permits given to the Tata Wingers have not been cancelled and withdrawn.
While appealing to other transport services to stay away from the said route, Priyokumar has warned that they themselves should be held responsible for any eventuality of defying the bandh call.