Imphal, February 09 2010: Taking into account public sufferings and the ensuing 55th quinquennial congress of Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC) at Senapati, the agitating Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA) has relaxed its ongoing economic blockade along National Highway 39 for 36 hours with effect from 6 am tomorrow.

Meanwhile, around 160 loaded oil tankers which were stranded at Khatkhati as a result of the economic blockade and the failure of the Nagaland Government to provide requisite escort, have been brought to Mao gate today.

According to sources from Consumers' Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, the oil tankers would be escorted to Imphal tomorrow.

The student body has imposed economic blockade along the key supply route of the State in pursuance of its demand for development of the deteriorating condition of the Senapati sector of the highway since the past one week posing an imminent price hike of essential commodities.

"Considering the hardships and inconveniences faced by the public owing to the economic blockade in addition to the forthcoming MBC's quinquennial Congress at Senapati town, we have relaxed our strike for 36 hours from tomorrow 6 am," said a key leader of the tribal student body on Tuesday afternoon.

"We will resume our stir after the limited free passage period ends.

There is no question of calling off our stir until and unless our legitimate demands are complied with by the government," he said.

Stating that several memorandum of understandings were signed between the association and the government with the latter making false assurances to repair the poor condition of the route, the student leader said the SDSA has a bitter experience of the state's indifferent attitude.

On being asked about the repairing works currently being taken up by the state along the route, he said it is only a show or a facefilt during the agitation period as done before.

"Once our agitation is suspended or called off, these works which also lack quality will be ultimately stopped .Everybody knows it," he said.

"To overcome this unwanted trend of hoodwinking the people, we demanded to hand over the development works to the BRO," the student leader added.

On the other hand, shortage of fuel has reportedly affected the ongoing road construction work at Mantripukhri under the Works Department of the State with its hot mixed plant remaining idle from today.

Shortage of fuel has also affected operation of other hot mixed plants in private possession of some contractors in the said, sources from Works Department informed.

The source further informed that the Union Ministry has sanctioned Rs 200 crores to the Department for development of the National Highway 39.Out this sanctioned amount Rs 40 crores is to be utilised before March.

But so far only half the amount has been able to utilised.

Comment