The chief minister N Biren Singh today assured enhanced security for trucks and tankers plying the highways and announced premium support for drivers and handyman of trucks and tankers.
The chief minister today met the members of All Manipur Petroleum Products Drivers’ Association and All Manipur Petroleum Products Transporters’ Association in the Cabinet Hall of Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
During the meeting, N Biren Singh made his earnest appeal to the two associations to call off their steering-down stir launched after the recent gun attacks on petroleum tankers between Kangpokpi and Changoubung in Kangpokpi district.
After patiently hearing the grievances aired by the association members, Shri N. Biren assured to enhance security for the oil tankers and transporters to ensure the safety of the drivers and handymen.
He said that a dedicated 24X7 hotline number (0385-2450214) will be opened at DGP’s office from tomorrow to attend the calls of transporters and drivers of oil tankers, LPG bullet tankers and trucks operating service on the National Highways in case of any emergency.
Another hotline mobile number having Whatsapp facility will also be activated soon.
The Chief Minister said that drivers, transporters and handymen may directly inform these hotline numbers if they face any problem on the National Highways.
During the meeting, N Biren also conveyed that the State Government would open life insurance accounts for the drivers and handymen of inflammable trucks carrying petroleum products, for which the annual premium would be borne by the State Government.
Moreover, the State Government would also provide ex-gratia and job to the next of kin of the drivers and handymen, who lost their lives due to militant or anti-social element attack in the line of duty, the Chief Minister said.
N Biren also directed the Transport Commissioner, who also attended the meeting, to issue an order to the officers concerned not to take more than two days in renewal and issuance of driving license and hazardous license.
As reported harassment of drivers and handymen of petroleum tankers of Manipur in Assam, the Chief Minister of Manipur contacted Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over the phone on the matter.
Shri N. Biren told the association members that Himanta had assured to convene a joint meeting of five SPs of different districts of Assam regarding the matter tomorrow.
Source: Imphal Free Press
