Imphal, July 11 2010: Volunteers of All Manipur Anti Drug Association (AMADA) today drew the attention of Chief Minister in controlling prices of essential commodities and making NH-53 as primary lifeline of the state by submitting a memorandum.

All Manipur Anti Drug Association (AMADA), founded to fight the menace of drugs and related problems in Manipur being compelled to broaden its sphere of activity due to the present prevailing price rise and its subsequent suffering, has submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister O Ibobi for effective price control and to make NH 53 primary lifeline of Manipur today.

AMADA submitted the memorandum today with a rally originated from Keishampat Junction where they staged a sit-in protest as part of its series of "Campaigns for Survival".

The rally, marching towards Chief Minister's Bungalow, was blocked by police at Nityaipat Chuthek and allowed only five member delegation to proceed and submit the memorandum to the Chief Minister.

The memorandum urged the Chief Minister for effective price control and speedy improvement of NH 53 to make it as primary lifeline of the state highlighting the hardships suffered by the people due to high rise in prices of commodities because of uncertainty prevent on the national highways.

The memorandum clarified that though AMADA was founded to fight the menace of drug and related problems in the state, the present situation of Manipur has compelled AMADA to broaden its sphere of activity, according have launched Campaign for Survival.

Taking undue advantage of the present law and order situation, businessmen and shopkeepers are fixing prices of commodities at their will with the intention to earn maximum profit taking advantage of the prevailing situations on the highways that disturbed the regular flow of essential commodities, they cited in the memorandum.

The memorandum also lamented for not having an authority to control prices of commodities in the state and demanded revival of price fixation committee flaying the government in the absence of preventive measures on the repeated incidents of terrorizing, extorting, killing and destruction of vehicles and goods in Imphal-Dimapur section of the NH-39 .

While demanding reviving "Price Fixation Committee", AMADA also urged the committee to be constituted and consisting of DC Imphal West as chairman, the SP Imphal West, the Director of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, the Director of Soil Conservation, the Director of Agriculture, leaders of Civil Society Organisations, Consumer Club, Consumer Forum and Business Establishment bodies should be a permanent one for preventing frequent hardships facing by the people over price rise by traders and to avoid conflict between public and traders.

AMADA further, in the memorandum, emphasized for speeding up the improvement works of making NH 53 as primary lifeline of the state and insisted for a firm stand of not using NH-39 by the government too and deployment of adequate state security forces at Tupul, Noney and Awang Khul in addition to Road Opening Party (ROP) in the whole of the section of NH-53 for ensuring security to the drivers and transporters.

The memorandum also requested the Chief Minister not to use Noney as entry point as militants collect illegal taxes at the spot and also proposed to hold regular meetings with chiefs of villages located on both sides of the highway for preventing untoward incidents.

AMADA, mention may be made here, announced that the body is compelled to expand its sphere of activity as the state is embroiled into hardships due to prolonged hike in prices of essential commodities.

They started "Campaign for Survival" from July 6 last by holding series of a sit in protests and public meetings against price rise.

Today also they staged a sit-in protest at Keisampat Junction from 11.30 am to 1 pm in which a large number of AMADA volunteers, representatives of different civil organisations took part.

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