In search of new routes for communication, trade & commerce

RS Jassal *

Look East Policy and Asean-India Free Trade Agreement signed since August 2009 has opened many avenues of mutually benefitting inward and outward moves for mutual trade services, benefitting Indian State & Manipur in particular.

Manipur is land locked, but now no more, if sharpened visioned look is applied to it. The route NH39, NH150 & NH 53 had inward openings but now we can think of opening Moreh route to Yangon for uninterrupted in flow of FOL from Sittwe pipeline. It empowers Manipur to do that with diplomatic trade formalities formalized at diplomatic channels through Govt. of India & Govt. of Myanmar level.

If gone by the evaluation of Rs with Kyat, Manipur will be saving 40% cost overall to what is being presently incurred in dealing with Assam Companies and facing host of home shut-ups by kind courtesy economic blockades, three inter-state moves involved , four insurgent groups cuts and illegitimate cuts from illegal organizations functioning enroute .

Delivery Point by Myanmar at ICP (Integrated Check post) Moreh (which can later be developed into laid pipeline up to Imphal. This system once placed in position can sustain three states i.e., Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura if need be Meghalaya too. Surplus can be piped into Kolkata. China is engaged to hijack it through sea route so India needs acting fast & Govt. of Manipur has to press hard to solve this burning problem on permanent basis.

The second route for cereals, daals, sugar, edible oils etc can be Imphal- Tipaimukh- Silchar to Dhaka- Kolkata via (Parbung- Man Bahadur - Jiribam road through Sylhet- Dhaka on same diplomacy & ground pattern. Dependency on Dimapur- Guwahati- Siliguri route & railhead Dimapur will be reduced & finally completely negated once rail link Jiribam, Imphal gets functional.

NH-39-NH-53 be maintained for inter states, domestic use and in/out tourist purposes in addition.

I have floated a proposal at Two Days Workshop organized by State Transport Department in collaboration with All Manipur Bar Association held at Cheirap Court on April 2010 to have two roads 40 feet width magnitude covering
(a) Jiribam-Parbung- Langthulian- Sikivung- Singhneau, Sajik Tampak, and Somtal to Moreh. Up to Sikivung it is already existing from Sikivung to Moreh has to be cut & developed on war footing.
(b) Jessami-Kierie - Chamu to -Kongan Thana - Choro- Moreh of same magnitude be cut and developed.

On both axis artificial water ways by blocking wasteful running waters of monsoon & otherwise can be created to run motor- boats for tourists & crop fisiculture. This will attract tourists both domestic and international in great number. Govt. has then to open new petrol/pumps covering 20-25 kms each and provide hotel/motels enroute and appropriately motor workshop cum -proportionately will also come up.

This will engage maximum unskilled youth, & others with lesser educational qualification on self employment with state assistance. If these two roads can be provided at Choro & Sajik Tampak with hepter services co-opted at these two terminus point it will add to the utility of communicational service & health sector too since PHC, will have to be created.

In fine, ASEN Free Trade Agreement must be made full use of for multi-directional advantages at the earliest. Govt. of Manipur needs cracking Commerce Ministry. Govt. of India than to wait for another crisis to wake us up. International. Bus Service with Myanmar in addition to what said up & above will bring people to people contact closer.

With development in inter state relationship people of Manipur will get access to use of bounties from Kabaw valley too indirectly & discreetly of course devoid of political ownership. People of similar ethnicity presently divided by counter insurgency plank will be able to meet interact & do commerce & trade activities without much of suspicions and false observations.

Dear readers, please come forward, examine my recommendation & join in carrying it forward with the Govt. of Manipur as we are well covered by international agreements. Why should we wait more and what for! Enough is enough

Lastly, Govt. of Manipur must consider putting up proper RCC Bridge on road Pailapul-Chandarpore-Chiri 6 kms up east to connect with Jiri River with Tuosam sub division of Tamenglong district to reach necessities for the people from Silchar to Pailapul direction which will be the shortest route.

Road up to river is already existing but use for KUNDA extraction only. People of Tuosam must struggle whole heartedly for their own interest. God helps those who help themselves.