The Hindu : National : Rice being transported by rail to Manipur

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Rice being transported by rail to Manipur

Iboyaima Laithangbam

IMPHAL: The Food Corporation of India is transporting huge quantities of rice by rail to Jiribam, a city and a municipal council in Imphal East district of Manipur.

Trucks will bring the rice here.

The step was taken to bypass Highway 39 that snakes through Nagaland.

The highway was boycotted by the Transporters and Drivers Council.

However, reports say that trucks were not able to reach the railway station owing to the bad road condition.

Storage problem

Railway officials said storage would be a problem, if the rice bags were not lifted by truckers.

Some trucks are now plying on Highway 39 to lift commodities, while Highway 53 is being used by most of the vehicles. Trucks were stranded for days on the 220-km mountain highway and it takes 15 days for a truck to come here from Jiribam.

Rice price rise

The price of rice is sold at Rs. 28 a kg owing to the earlier 68-day Naga blockade, the present 20-day blockade, the bad condition of Highway 53.

However, Manipur Food and Civil Supplies Minister Yumkham Erabot expects rice and fuel stock will arrive safely as paramilitary forces are escorting the trucks.

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