Dimapur, June 15 (MExN): Additional chief secretaries Alemtemshi Jamir and Toshi Aier will be sitting for the Nagaland Government in the emergency meeting of chief secretaries of Nagaland and Manipur convened by Union Home secretary GK Pillai in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The meeting will discuss steps to be taken by the two state governments to keep NH-39 open, in view of the prolonged economic blockade imposed by Naga organizations of Manipur state as well as the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF).
When contacted, Nagaland Chief Secretary Lathara said he will not be attending the proposed meeting as the two additional chief secretaries are already in Delhi. Lalthara said the main agenda of the meeting will be to break the deadlock arising out of the economic blockades on NH-39. He also said that the main issue has been temporarily resolved as the NSF had announced to temporarily suspend the blockade (on the Nagaland side) with effect from 6pm Wednesday.
The NSF on Monday said that it would temporarily suspend the blockade, after meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Chidambaram. Meanwhile, sources said that the All Naga Students’ Association Manipur (ANSAM), which is spearheading the blockade, and frontal south Naga organizations and students’ bodies today held a meeting in Senapati town to discuss the latest situation as well as the Centre’s decision to send central forces to remove the blockade.
According to a PIB report, a number of steps have been taken to ensure supplies to Manipur since the blockade began. Two consignments of life-saving drugs reached Imphal on May 18 and another weighing 4 MT was airlifted by an IAF aircraft on the same day. Between May 17 and May 23, 492.52 quintals of PDS rice was airlifted from FCI, Guwahati by an AN 32 aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
Transportation of essential commodities via NH-53 escorted by State Police has started since May 21, 2010. More than 1000 trucks/tankers with essential commodities such as petroleum products, rice, etc. have reached Manipur through this route. An IL-76 aircraft carried 32 kilo ltrs of kerosene oil on May 21, 2010 and 48 kilo ltrs of HSD on May 22, 2010.
Also, essential commodities are also being transported to Manipur through NH 150 with the assistance of the Government of Mizoram. Between May 16 and June 07, 180 goods vehicles and 37 POL tankers reached Manipur through this route. In addition, supplies of essential goods to the Hill Districts of Manipur have been arranged by the district administration and Naga civil society groups.
