Citizens feel the squeeze between counter blockades

IMPHAL, JUNE 17: The 10-day economic blockade on all National Highways and ban on ongoing national projects in the tribal areas of Manipur and subsequent counter blockade on different routes leading to the hill districts has affected the movement of goods to their respective destination since the last few days. The Joint Action Committee Against Anti-Tribal Bills and Outer Manipur Tribals’ Forum called the blockade since June 9 midnight in protest against the passing of three Bills in Manipur assembly last year while the counter blockade by women folks at different junctions of routes leading to hill district headquarters has been in effect since June 13 onwards. Following the imposition of blockade, the supplies which are supposed to be arrived from other parts of the country have been severely affected since then, while goods transported in private and passenger vehicles for the hill towns were prevented in some areas. A meeting in Yairipok area in Thoubal district had even decided to form a state level Joint Action Committee on counter blockade. Appealing to the masses not to resort to any form of unwanted acts while imposing the counter blockades, the supporters of the counter blockade mostly women folks also appealed to the drivers of passenger vehicles not to carry any goods in their vehicles to hill districts till the end of the blockade which is scheduled to conclude on June 19 midnight. “We are also requesting the owners of the goods to bear with us till the end of blockade,” said a woman functionary while enforcing counter blockade at Senapati bus parking at Khoyathong junction in Imphal on Thursday. The ongoing economic blockade had been affecting all the works related with the construction of Jiri-Tupul railway line project in Manipur, sources said. The much awaited 111 km Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal railway line which is estimated to cost Rs 5,996 crores, is targeted to be completed by end of 2018 while the 84 km Jiribam-Tupul sector is projected for completion this year end. Fearing possible disturbance, movement of all vehicles related with the project has also been reportedly suspended for the last six-seven days besides suspension of works at some sites, it added.