Communication gap strands more trucks at Jiri

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jun 19 : An apparent lack of coordination among security agencies has emerged over the provision of security escorts for transporters along the Imphal-Jiribam road (National Highway-37) even as hundreds of loaded trucks and fuel tankers remain stranded.
According to well-placed sources, the Manipur Police sent a communication to the CRPF on June 18, seeking three security convoys to escort loaded trucks stranded in Jiribam and Assam to Imphal, and another three convoys to escort empty trucks from Imphal to Jiribam.
However, the CRPF reportedly reduced the number of convoys, citing inadequate rest for its personnel.
According to reports, around 800 goods trucks are currently stranded in Jiribam and Assam and these affected transporters have been seeking adequate security convoys to facilitate the movement of their vehicles.
As a result, the Director General of Police (DGP), Manipur, sent a communique yesterday to the CRPF Inspector General (Manipur and Nagaland Sector) to provide three security convoys each to escort loaded trucks (petroleum products and other essential items) stranded in Jiribam and Assam to Imphal, and to escort empty trucks from Imphal to Jiribam today.
However, the CRPF IG sent a separate letter to the DIG Range Imphal/Ops Jiribam, stating that a single convoy would escort empty trucks to Jiribam, while two convoys would bring the stranded trucks to Imphal.
In the letter, the CRPF cited the continuous deployment of its personnel on escort duty without adequate rest, as well as the condition of the highway, as reasons for reducing the number of convoys.
It is reported that 300 stranded trucks, escorted by two convoys and loaded with petroleum products and other essentials, have begun moving towards Imphal, while another 201 empty trucks have left Imphal for Jiribam under a single CRPF convoy.
The vehicles heading to Imphal include 30 LPG tankers, 30 petrol tankers, 35 diesel tankers, 13 mixed tankers, 4 ATF tankers and 188 loaded trucks.
To transport CRPF personnel, the Manipur Truck Owners’ Welfare Association (MTOWA) had last night arranged 48 vehicles, following the communication sent by the DGP to the CRPF.
However, only 16 vehicles carrying security personnel as escorts proceeded from Imphal to Jiribam, as the CRPF reduced the number of convoys.
All Manipur Road Transport Drivers' & Motor Workers' Union (AMRTD&MWU) general secretary Maimom Anil said that transporters have been bringing supplies through Imphal-Jiribam road due to the prevailing situation along Imphal-Dimapur road (National Highway 2).
He added that only 174 trucks reached Imphal from Jiribam yesterday, as the CRPF provided only one convoy.
Saying that around 800 trucks are currently stranded in Jiribam and Assam, he added that many of them have been stuck along the highway for the past four days.
Anil also said that the escort party mostly prioritises trucks carrying petroleum products, adding that a single convoy is inadequate.
If CRPF personnel are unable to provide escorts due to lack of rest, what about the transporters stuck along the highway, he asked.
Anil added that the Government can deploy the 10th and 11th IRB personnel, which were recruited for deployment along the highways, as escort parties, even if the number of Central forces is insufficient.