Imphal, October 03: Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) and All Manipur Rickshaw Drivers and Pullers Welfare Association have begun launching drive jointly against unauthorised rickshaws in Greater Imphal area from today.

The drive has been launched in view of increase in the number of unregistered rickshaws plying on the roads causing traffic problem as well to curb petty crimes committed by these unauthorised rickshaw drivers/pullers at the cost of the reputation of the genuine ones, said officials of IMC and representatives of the Association.

According to information given by IMC officials, the actual number of registered rickshaws in service in Greater Imphal area is only 8,000.But with many unregistered rickshaws getting into the field, the number of rickshaws plying on the road has increased to around 15,000.On the first day of the drive today, more than 100 rickshaws were pulled up for not posessing proper documents, licence and registration numbers.

After a proper verification, licenses would be issued against those rickshaws which do not have it, unregistered ones would be taken over and legal action would be initiated against those units which are assembling rickshaws, the IMC officials informed.

They further informed that there is no fix schedule for launching the drive and it would be carried out as and when required.

Cheques presented to SGRY beneficiaries: Cheques amount of the benefit entitled the selected physically handicapped beneficiaries of Imphal East under Sampoorna Gramin Rojgar Yojana (SGRY), 2005-06 have been distributed during a function held at the office of Deputy Commissioner of Imphal East today.

Out of the 200 applicants, 21 beneficiaries have been selected for the first phase of the scheme, 2005-06, DC KK Chhetry said while talking to The Sangai Express.

Each of the selected beneficiaries are entitled to rice and monetary benefit of Rs 30,000 in value.

The rice quotas were, however, not distributed during the function today, though the stock is said to be kept intact at the FCI godown.

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