IMPHAL, July 29 � Road links to Manipur, which remained cut off from the rest of the country since the last three days following heavy landslides on the National Highways, has been re-opened on Thursday.
However, repairs of the road at the landslide prone Maram bazaar stretch of Imphal-Dimapur sector of the National Highway 2 (formerly known as NH 39) in Senapati district would take some time.
With the opening of the State�s life line, the 300 stranded goods laden trucks have resumed their journey for their destinations in the afternoon today.
But the more than 4,000 residents of Maram bazaar, a small hill town located on the highway are facing scarcity of potable water after the landslide buried the water supply pipelines.
�We have been buying water at the rate of Rs 20 per 40 litre tin since the last three weeks�, Kunjeshwori, a fish vendor at Maram Bazar said.
Economic blockade: An economic blockade on the two national highways � NH 39 and 53 which connects Manipur with the rest of the country has been called by Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) from July 31 to August 7.
SHDDC has been demanding conversion of Sadar Hills area which lies under Manipur�s Senapati district, into a full-fledged revenue district.
�The blockade may be extended if there is no positive response from the State Government within the blockade period,� SHDDC president Ngamkhohao Haokip said.
The people of Jiribam, a sub-divisional headquarter under Imphal East district with borders with Assam�s Cachar district, have also been demanding conversion of Jiribam into a district for administrative convenience.
Jiribam District Demand Committee sponsored public meeting attended by Jiribam Municipal Council councilors, Jilla Parishad members and other civil society leaders on Thursday has resolved to stage a mass protest rally on August 2 as part of intensifying their agitation. Presently, Manipur has nine districts.
