DIMAPUR, SEPT 28 NNN : The lukewarm attitude of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to the deplorable road condition within the perimeters of the FCI food storage depot at Kevijau Colony in Dimapur has irked the Railway Goods Transporters, which has threatened to launch an indefinite strike if the road condition is not improved at the earliest.
The threat of the Railway Goods Transporters will greatly affect supply of foodgrains to Nagaland and neighbouring state Manipur as both the states are hugely dependent on FCI foodgrains.
Talking to media persons at the FCI depot, the transporters complained that despite several reminders to the FCI including a representation in July this year to repair the road within the FCI perimeter, the FCI authority has not taken any heed.
“Most of the truckers are daily bread earners transporting FCI food grains. But in this bad road condition, especially during rainy season, many of the truck break down and develop mechanical problems for which the truckers have to spend minimum Rs. 10,000 to repair their vehicles”, said Shikuto Sema, president of Railway Goods Transporters.
Visiting media persons to the FCI Food Storage Depot on Thursday noticed that a fully loaded truck was stuck in the potholes at the main entrance of the depot even as another truck was being pulled out.
Labourers engaged in FCI goods transportation also attested that the deplorable road condition has been dragging on for years and cited instances of food items falling down from the vehicles due to slanting of vehicles while negotiating potholes.
Even as the transporters disclosed that it has become dangerous for them to bring in their vehicles in such road conditions, the FCI officials simply assured them that contractors are working on to fill up the big potholes, some 2 to 2½ feet deep on temporary basis.
The Railway Goods Transporters president also disclosed that over the year, local contractors were contributing from their own pockets for repairing and maintenance of road within the FCI depot.
“This exposes the total disregard and negligence on the part of the FCI authority to the two land-locked states of Nagaland and Manipur. If they (FCI) are sincere enough, then the road can be repaired overnight”, Shikuto said.
Members of the Railway Goods Transporters who met with the FCI depot manager reminded the latter on representation submitted by the transporters in the month of July demanding the repair of the road.
Acknowledging the demands of the transporters, the FCI depot manager said that a local contractor was awarded the work to fill up the potholes and repair the road on immediate basis. The manager also said that he had appraised FCI authority on the problems faced by the transporters.
Meanwhile, the Railway Goods Transporters cautioned that if the ongoing repairing works are not found satisfactory, then the transporters would launch an indefinite strike, which would affect both Nagaland and Manipur states.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/goods-transporters-threaten-to-launch-indefinite-agitation/
