Driver fraternity to meet PM and HM on highway issues

IMPHAL, May 12: The Co-ordinating Body of Trade Unions, Manipur with the Motor Owners, Workers and Transporters representative will be heading to Delhi to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on the problems faced by the Motors Owners, Workers and Transporter along the National Highways in Manipur.

The delegation consisting of ten members will be leaving Imphal for Delhi on May 16, said Laishram Sotinkmar, chairman of the Co-ordinating Body of Trade Unions, Manipur during a press conference at the Manipur Press Club today.

He said, the team is likely to meet with the Union Home Minister on May 16 or 17.

Sotinkmar further elaborated on the salient points of the trip and said the memorandum will highlight to the Prime Minister the need of a Highway Protection Force for the National Highways in Manipur and the urgent completion of National Highway 37 within this year.

He continued that the team will also urge PM and the Union Home Minister to give compensation for victims and injured persons and vehicles which were burnt down by the “anti–national” elements along the highways of Manipur.

The memorandum will also highlight the mushrooming of unnecessary gates/checks post which gives undue harassment to the drivers along the highways, he said.

"We will also urge to meet the PM and the HM and urge them to take actions and reduce the numbers of unnecessary gates/ check post along the National Highways, Sotinkmar said.

The team will highlight the price rise in the state of Manipur as compared to in other states in light of the unnecessary taxes collected by various armed groups that have opened their own check posts along the highways of Manipur.

Speaking at the press meet Kshetrimayum Santa, convenor said the delay in the process for giving compensation to the deceased drivers and the damaged trucks owners will also be discussed during the meeting.

He said the team will also highlight that the outfits collecting taxes along the highways are all in peace talk with the Government of India.

He said the team will also call on the PM and the HM to look into the issue of medical facilities along the highways and to avail ambulance facilities at every 50 km stretch along the highways of the state as is done in the state of Kerala where a medical ambulance is present every 40 kms along the National Highways.