Imphal, May 22 2010: State food Minister, Y Irabot today received a rousing welcome from the people when he returned from Jiribam as 290 loaded trucks arrived at Imphal this late evening with heavy security on the Imphal-Jiribam section of the NH-53 .
With slogans praising and welcoming the effort of the consumer affairs, food and public distribution minister, Y Irabot rocked the sky on the stretch of the highway from Keithelmanbi to Imphal as hundreds of people turned out and offered flowers chains as mark of gratitude to his effort in opening of the NH-53 .
Interestingly, yesterday, when he left for Jiribam with a team of reporters, Irabotdid not tell where the place he is touring.
Only when the team kicked off for the journey, reporters were informed of going to Jiribam to bring back the loaded vehicles.
Only 10 security personnel and four PSO accompanied the minister in the tour and came back with the good numbers of freight trucks stranded for the last many days due to the indefinite economic blockade imposing by the ANSAM and supporters to the demand of defer of the elections to the district council elections in hill districts.
Irabot told reporters that he had decided to proceed personally to look into the situation along the NH-53 when government failed to translate into works decisions taken in the Cabinet meetings at least three times and attempted to use Guite road for ferry of essential goods items by the government.
As government decision to use Guite was not informed to him before, he wanted to take stock of actual situation of the NH-53 and know the reason behind the government refusal to provide security on the stretch for save passage of freight trucks.
The arrival of so many loaded trucks to Imphal from Jiribam today, it has been proof that the government is telling lie to the people, Irabot boldly said adding that the matter will be brought up to the knowledge of the Prime Minister and Home Minister.
Despite having some smaller mudslide prone portion on the stretch, BRTF personnel, put on service, clearing the mud from time to time.
The route will be used for ferrying essential items henceforth, the minister assured.
He also said that Central security forces like the CRPF, BSF and Assam Rifles are protecting the stretch of the highway by opening security posts every vulnerable areas.
When the information regarding his visit to Jiribam reached the ear, government issued order for using the NH-53 in procurement of essential items instead of Guite road and started sending state IRB forces to escort back the freight trucks, Irabot claimed.
On the way back from Jiribam, the minister intercepted around 100 trucks stranded on the way at Kaiphundai Bazar due to landslide after around 200 trucks crossed.
Before heading for Imphal, the minister also came across some 50 trucks parked nearby the Jiribam police station at Guladhon after trucks were left Jiribam for Imphal yesterday with security escort.
All the trucks arrived at Keithelmanbi at about 4 pm.
On minister's arrival in Imphal hundreds of people were found waiting for receiving him with warm welcome.
Among them was former MP, Kim Gangte of Trinamool Congress.
Food minister, Irabotwas received and felicitated by womenfolk at Khumbong, Salam, Sagoltongba, Yurembam Babu Bazar, Patsoi and seek blessing from the minister on his successful trip.
The minister took around eight hours in reaching Imphal from Keithelmanbi as he had to held talks with the people felicitating him.
A traffic jam occurred at Konung Mamang when the minister headed his residence as hundreds of people waited for receiving him.
Various slogans like, "Minister Irabotis the hero of Manipur, he is the true leader of the people" were shouted by the people receiving him.
Source: Hueiyen News Service
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