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The following is the text of the statement made by the Home Minister, Shri Shivraj V. Patil in the Lok Sabha today in response to the calling attention notice tabled by Prof. Vijay Kumar Malholtra and other members regarding the situation arising out of the on-going economic blockade in Manipur resulting in non-availability of essential commodities including medicines and steps taken by the Government in regard thereto.
“This year, the Government of Manipur declared a public holiday on 18th June. It was also declared as ‘State Integrity Day’. A body called All Naga Students Association of Manipur (ANSAM), called for protest rallies in hill districts (Senapati, Ukhrul, Taminglong and Chandel) of Manipur on 16th June asking State Government to rescind the decision to declare 18th June as Integrity day and public holiday on that day. After that in the night intervening 19th June and 20th June, an economic blockage has been declared.
Manipur is connected to the rest of the country by NH-39 which passes from Dimapur to Mao (in Manipur) through Nagaland terriroty. Then the road passes through hill districts in Manipur, before entering Imphal valley. Other road viz. NH-53 connects Silchar in Assam to Imphal in Manipur. It also passes through Naga dominated Taminglong district in Manipur. Both these roads have been blocked by the ANSAM in Manipur. There were problems on NH-53 like presence of insurgent groups and bad conditions at some places.
Manipur gets about 200 trucks daily. From the date of blockade till 2.8.2005, normally around 8,000 trucks would have brought supplies to Manipur like petrol, diesel, LPG and foodgrains. However, only about 700 trucks including petrol tankers (52 vehciles on 20.6.2005, 69 vehicles on 3.7.2005, 55 vehicles on 11.7.2005, 45 vehicles on 17.7.2005, 51 vehicles on 23.7.2005, 91 vehicles on 26.7.2005, 103 vehicles on 28.7.2005) have been able to enter the valley. This has resulted in shortage of essential commodities in the State. All drugs in generic names are available. Some branded products are less in quantity. No serious complaint of shortage has come from hospitals. However, action is being taken for air lifting of medicines and life saving drugs, if necessary, at short notice.
State Government has been organizing convoys of trucks/tankers to bring POL from Khatkhati in Assam via Dimapur on NH-39. State Governments of Assam and Nagaland have been providing security to the convoys in their respective territories. Army was asked to clear NH-53 of insurgent elements, which was done around 2nd week of July. However, on the intervening night of 19/20 July, a bailey bridge over river Irang was cut by some miscreants. The bridge has become operational on 26.7.2005 and security has been tightened on NH-53. Due to plying of heavy vehicles, bridges on NH-53 at Makru and Barak were damaged. The same have been repaired by BRO and have been opened for heavy vehicles w.e.f. 2.8.2005. Further strengthening of bridges on NH-53 for sustained/regular movement is still continuing. The State Government has reported that over 200 empty trucks have left Imphal on 2.8.2005 via NH-53 for Jiribam-Silchar. Loaded vehicles with gross weight upto 10 metric tons shall ply on Jiribam/Imphal route w.e.f. 3.8.2005.
The Union Government has been in touch with the State Governments of Manipur, Nagaland and Assam and monitoring the position. I have been in touch with the Chief Ministers of Manipur, Nagaland and Assam. I have asked them to cooperate with each other and see that essential commodities are allowed to be transported to Imphal and other places without any obstructions. The Chief Ministers of Assam and Nagaland have promised to extend all the help required in this respect. The Chief Minister of Manipur is asked to see that the essential commodities are reached to the city of Imphal and other places. He has been asked to provide escort to the vehicles carrying the goods and also see that through dialogue with ANSAM the situation is made conducive for free flow of goods in the State. Additional forces have been deployed in Manipur.
The Union Home Secretary had held a meeting with the Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police of these States on 15th of July, 2005. He is again meeting the officers and getting them as to how the matter should be solved.
Indian Oil Corporation and Food Corporation of India have been asked to make all efforts to send maximum supplies to Manipur. Full protection to the convoys carrying these essentials is asked to be assured.
Those who are involved in the blockade in Manipur and other places should be stopped. Security forces are asked to see that the blockade is not allowed and law and order and peace is maintained in the area.
The Ministers of Manipur Government and representatives of ANSAM met in Senapati yesterday. The reports are that the talks between them are encouraging and would help in solving the problem. They are likely to continue these talks.
The Union Home Secretary is likely to visit that area very soon to help the State Governments to overcome the difficulties that are faced by them. Whenever the blockade of this nature takes place, common people suffer. We are sympathetic to the suffering of the common people in the State of Manipur. We have asked the State Government to do every thing possible to overcome the difficulties arising out of the shortages of essential commodities in the State. We have promised them to help in every respect to see that there are no shortage of essential commodities in the State. By following different routes and by using all the means which can be used the commodities required would be supplied to them. In case it becomes necessary airlifting of commodities like medicine would also be done. The problem in these States are of very sensitive nature. In order to maintain law and order and peace in the area it is necessary to keep in mind the sensitivity of people belonging to different tribes. From Delhi we are trying to bear in mind these delicate aspects and are also asking the State Governments and the citizens of the State to bear these aspects in mind and help each other – the Governments in the States and all of us in the country.
By and large majority of the people and the political parties have understood the situation in correct perspective and have cooperated. We hope that this will be continued in the future and aberrations are not allowed to occur which would cause concern to all of us”.
OK/AD/SK
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