Mnp invites UNC, ANSAM for talks

Manipur government on Monday announced that freight trucks even with security escorts would not be sent until normalcy was brought about on the NH-53 and NH-39 and appealed the agitating ANSAM and UNC to suspend the economic blockade and come to the negotiating table.
Government spokesperson, minister, N Biren appealed the ANSAM and UNC to come to the negotiating table with the government regarding their demands for amendment of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act 2008.
He said the government has many times assured that the Act (MDC 3rd Amendment), which they wanted to amend, could be done at any time. “Everything can be discussed on the table and end with amicable solution. Government is always open with its door to talk,” he added.
He also said that government had many times invited them to hold talks but did not respond and that despite all these, government was still determined to end the impasse through talks. “They (ANSAM and UNC) should come out for talks considering the suffering of the people owing to the prolonged blockade on the highways,” he said.
At the same time, Biren said the government was not ready to send vehicles on the Imphal-Jiribam section of the NH-53 until safety of the truckers was ensured.
Government decided to stop sending security arrangement for the time being on the NH-53 as any untoward incident occurred to the truckers might worsen the fragile situation of the state,’ he said.
Supplies reach Manipur
Trucks loaded with essential supplies and petroleum products have begun entering Manipur which remains cut-off with two highways from Assam and Nagaland blockaded by Naga students since April 16, official sources said today.
Around 18 heavy and 17 light commercial vehicles carrying 220 barrels of petrol, 76 barrels of diesel and 35 bags of sugar and other supplies entered Manipur territory yesterday from Mizoram, the sources said.
More vehicles are on their way to Manipur, the sources said.
Official sources in Aizawl said the Mizoram government, which has accepted the appeal of neighbouring Manipur, today appointed state Joint Secretary for home T V Fambol as the nodal officer to oversee movement of essential commodities via the Silchar-Aizawl-Sinzawl- Churachandpur-Imphal road.
Earlier, the Manipur government sent an SOS to the Mizoram government seeking help in using an alternate route to ferry supplies to the beleaguered state.
Manipur government on Monday airlifted 10 tonnes of rice into Imphal. “As per Manipur government’s request, we sent 10 tonnes of rice,” M. Gogoi, general manager of the Food Corporation of India, told IANS in Guwahati.
The essentials were flown into Manipur capital Imphal by two Indian Air Force AN-32 transport aircraft from the Borjhar airbase in Guwahati.
Food apart, life saving drugs and other medicines would be airlifted from Assam in the next two days.
The items airlifted by cargo flight from Guwahati included essential drugs, the stocks for which has been exhausted or depleted sharply in both government and private hospitals. The cargo flight (special flight) from Guwahati will operate on daily basis and the government would be giving subsidy to the cargo fare in procuring the items.
Meanwhile, state PWD department has sent machineries and manpower to repair the bad portions of the stretch of NH 150 which had been pointed out by the ministerial team, which inspected the road condition, officials said. Two bulldozers, three JCB and other required equipments have been dispatched for the same. They will reach the place by tomorrow to start the repairing works immediately, they added.