IMPHAL, January 4: The general Secretary, All India Trade Union Congress, Manipur, Sotinkumar condemned the act of Indian Oil Corporation of stranding petrol loaded tankers at Inter State Bus Terminal, ISBT.
Sotinkumar speaking to the media today at the office of the All Manipur Road Transport and Motor Workers`™ Union, AMRTMWU, has set one month deadline for the authorities concerned to make the Imphal ISBT functional.
He further said that AITUC and AMRTMWU have already urged the Union Home Minister for establishing `High Way Protection Forces`™ to stop various kind of unwanted activities of militants along the Imphal-Dhimapur road harassing transporters.
He continued that the ministry had assured that the plea will be met within 2014, however, till date it has not been met, he lamented. He said transporter have been avoiding the said highway to stay away from various disturbances and have been relying on the Imphal-Jiribam road, which is also not free from harsh terrains, mostly due to non-maintenance of the highway.
General secretary of Union, S Kulamani said that the check-post along the national highway from Koirengei to Mao currently has seven check-posts.
He said the check posts have started charging more unwarranted fees from the transporters in the recent time. He alleged that the concerned district administration and its police along the stretch of the said areas are doing nothing.
He questioned the role of the authorities in protecting the lives of the common people like the road transporters who frequent the highway daily.
Apart from several check-post, many security personnel such as Manipur Police, IRB, VDFs are also plying along the highway to collect money from the trucks drivers in the name of checking the trucks, which is unlawful, he alleged.
He warned that such practice must end soon in the interest of the people and the government must look into the matter at the soonest before various forms of agitations erupt.