Imphal, August 30: Contrary to the brief sign of relief the people of this land locked State might have heaved after report of some goods laden trucks arriving here on August 28 flow of traffic along the Imphal-Dimapur route has been disrupted again as incessant rainfall in the past 48 hours had further worsened the landslide affected zone.

After the brief resumption of vehicular traffic on this important highway through the landslide prone Zubza section, movement of loaded trucks have been restricted again.

In addition to the downpour hampering repairing works, limitation imposed by the Government of Nagaland truck loads not exceeding 15 tonnes is said to have left many truckers in a sticky situation as most vehicles are way above the said weightage.

Moreover, inspite of many trucks having left Imphal to bring back essential goods through the NH-53 side, weak bridges on this route have been preventing these vehicles from passing beyond Jiribam headquarters.

Such stranding of trucks is despite the fact that Government of Manipur had officially conveyed to authorities concerned for allowing passage of 15 tonne trucks.

On the otherhand, Union Ministry of Shipping, Surface Transport and Highways has reportedly approved provision of Rs 40 crores for development and improvement of highways connecting Manipur to other States.

The Union Ministry's consent for additional fund follows formal intimation from the chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and Works Minister K Ranjit to increase the annual sanction from the previous annual amount of Rs 13 crores.

Meanwhile, expressing strong resentment to the attitude of the State Government that allegedly pays attention to National Highway 53 only when there is problem along the National highway 39, Policy and Organisational Research Associates, Manipur (PORAM) has pointed out that more attention should be paid on development of the National Highway 53 .

Talking to mediapersons at Manipur Press Club here today, member secretary of PORAM and social activist Ch Chidananda observed that it is indeed unfortunate that the Government has started making arrangement for lifting Public Distribution System items through NH 53 only when heavy landslides have blocked the traffic along the National Highway 39 .

Pointing out that only upto 10 metric tonne of load is being allowed to transport along the National Highway 53 as the bridges located in between Nungba and Jiribam are weak, he questioned the Government how it is going to bring the loads of the PDS items through this route.

Maintaining that development of NH-53 being taken up after armed insurgents that used to dominate along the route have been cleared by the Army in 2005 has taken too long, he noted that just as the Government has been paying attention to expansion and development of National Highway 150, necessary attention should also be given to development of the Imphal-Jiri route by taking care of the required manpower.

On the other hand, many UG groups which have entered peace talks with the Government of India have been collecting Rs 30 to 40 crores in a year from vehicles plying along National Highway 39 through imposition of various taxes like good taxes, road taxes and godown taxes, he said, while estimating that around Rs 400 crores have been collected so far in this manner since the signing of the peace talks.

Inspite of the knowledge on illegal taxes being collected along the National Highway 39, the Government of India has been doing nothing to stop it, Chidananda rued.

It is the responsibility of the Centre to protect the National Highways from anti-social elements and the same has been enumerated in the Union list.

So the Government of India ought to return back the entire amount collected illegally as compensation to the State, Chidananda said.

While conveying that PORAM had already submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister for paying attention to the present condition of the National Highways, Chidananda pointed out that the memorandum had also suggested for review of the works on development of the National Highways along with the representatives of the Union Ministry of Surface Transport and Highways, PWD, BRTF and State Transport Department.

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