IMPHAL, Nov 15: The Joint Action Committee on restoration of Jiri-Tupul lines have called a state wide 24 hours general strike from the midnight of October 25 till the midnight of October 26 this month demanding the construction of Jiri-Tupul Railway lines as approved earlier by the concern authorities.
According to a statement issued by the JAC, the concern authorities have turned a deaf ear to the demands of the JAC despite of repeated genuine requests.
It has further recalled that the Zomi Council had submitted a memorandum to the general manager, (Constn) NEFR, Malegaon, Guwahati against the then proposed diversion of Jiri-Tupul railway lines (about 15km from Jiribam) towards Kulbung, Thingtuhbung and oinamlong villages unlike the government approved alignment of the railway line. It is also mentioned that, the JAC was formed on September 15 2009 by the aggrieved people concern for restoration of Jiri-Tupul rail way lines as approved and declared by the authority concern on the auspicious Republic Day of 2008.
Further maintaining that the JAC had submitted its first memorandum to the state MPs both the inner and the outer constituencies and further on August 27, 2010 a memorandum each was submitted simultaneously to the Union Railway minister, state Chief Minister for intervention on the execution of railway lines between Jiri-Tupul (98kms), it has also stated that the United Committee Manipur (UCM) had submitted its memorandum to Mamta Banerjee, Union Railway minister on August 28 last in the matter of diversification of railway alignment of the same railway line.
However both the state government as well as the Central government have initiated the unapproved re-alignment of the said railway line, and as its follow-up action the DC Tamenglong have started acquiring and handing over of land to the railway ministry. The land compensation has also been paid to Thingtuhbung and Kulbung villages some months back though these villages were not covered by the government approved railway alignment.
The statement in view of the above stated facts, has informed that the JAC is compelled to demand time and again from the authority concern to take immediate action against the general manager (construction) Malegaon Guwahatiu, Assam, who have been working in collusion with a vested interested UGs which is now under cease fire with the union government of India.
And finally the JAC in its statement have threatened to gherao all the work sites of the ongoing railway lines construction and its related works from November 20 onwards if the concern authority fail to give in written assurance that its approved alignment of the railway lines should not be changed or altered on or before November 19, and that the JAC will not be held responsible for any untoward incident but the state government and railway authority will solely be held responsible, the statement added.