IMPHAL, April 29 – The Central government will be launching a new project for having double lane on the National Highway-53, connecting Imphal with Silchar. The Union Surface and Transport Minister has given an assurance to this effect. India’s National Highways connecting Myanmar (formerly Burma) through the north-eastern states, particularly Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Assam, have been reduced to targets of the lawful and unlawful organisations. The NHs passing through Manipur are the lifelines for the people of this State which borders western Myanmar.All essential commodities are imported and exported through these NHs to Manipur.
NH 39 passes from Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland to Tamu, Myanmar via Imphal, the capital of Manipur. But NH-53 connects Silchar in Assam to Imphal. Interestingly, several voluntary organisations of Nagaland and Manipur on one hand and underground guerrillas on the other have been keeping their eyes on the NHs in Manipur. “NHs have been becoming the looting and ruthless extorting places of the outlawed,” Amrik Singh, convenor of the Imphal Bazar committee, told the Manipur Governor Ved Prakash Marwah during a communal harmony meeting held at the Raj Bhavan.
Over Rs 1 crore is being collected annually by the law-breakers in the name of road taxes. Ruthless extortion campaigns have been on the increase on NH-39 at sensitive places of Senapati, Manipur, Zakhama and Dimapur, Nagaland. Moreover, largescale looting expeditions are also being carried out at Khudengtabi and Bongyang in Chandel district of Manipur on NH-39 connecting Myanmar through Moreh, India’s gateway to the South East Asian Countries. Since bilateral trade between India and Myanmar began through Moreh and Tamu in Myanmar, NH-39 had become an important route leading to the SE Asian countries. The trade began since April 12, 1995.
The governments at the Centre and State have reportedly failed to take positive measures against the ruthless extortion campaigns on these NHs. Officially, over 200 loot and extortion campaigns have been reported on these two NHs in Manipur in the past three years despite the All Manipur Truck Owners Welfare Association urging the authorities concerned for action. More emphasis had been laid by the United Naga Council, the apex Naga body in Manipur on NHs during its agitation against restriction of ceasefire within Nagaland. Transportations of all essential commodities on these two NHs came to a grinding halt during the economic blockade on these NHs. Moreover, transport authorities in Manipur had been launching agitation by not plying the vehicles and buses on these NHs from time to time.
Besides, private transport authorities in the state had also urged the central leaders and Manipur Governor to take positive measures for repair and construction works on the NHs passing through Manipur and Nagaland. In this context, Manipuris had taken up a novel method for development of the National Highway-53. The development is being made with donation of huge amount of money from the people and others. Governor had been requested for constitution of a trust under which NH-53 would be developed and protected at any cost. The new move had been taken up subsequent to frequent bandh, looting, extortion and economic blockades on National Highway-39. The centre had reportedly neglected the repair and construction works of NH-53.
Various efforts were also being made for development of NH-150 linking Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland. A public meeting organised by the newly-formed Committee for Development of National Highway-53 had minute discussions on how to preserve and protect the NH-53. The meeting resolved to constitute a trust under the aegis of the Governor and form an advisory committee with prominent persons.
They also lamented that the frequent looting, robbery and harassment were taking place without a voice being raised against them and stressed that this needed to be addressed properly by the people as well as the government. The meeting also resolved to improve the condition of all National Highways in the state with priority to NH-53.