Chandel bandh cuts off Imphal Moreh connectivity

Pothashang News Service

Imphal, September 26: Imphal-Moreh road has been cut off, brought down trade volume with the 48 hours Chandel district Bandh imposed by the Naga Chiefs Association (NCA) and Kuki Chiefs Association (KCA) of Chandel district since yeatrdaymidnight.

The bandh has brought down trade volume. Bandh supporters came out and blocked the Imphal- Moreh road at Thamnapokpi area of Chandel, which is between Imphal and Tengnoupal.

The bandh was imposed in protest against against the alleged misappropriation of MGNREGS wages for the first phase of the year 2016-17 by the state government.

The decision of imposing bandh was taken during a meeting held on September 22 at Zion Village Authority office, Chandel by members of NCA, KCA and job card holders under the rural employment generation scheme.

The meeting denounced the government for not taking up any concrete decision on the matter despite the memorandum submitted to the chief minister, N. Biren through the deputy commissioner, Chandel on September 14.

President of NCA, T.S. Rungpwar said that following a work order dated on September 19, 2016, the job card holders of MGNREGS of different villages of Chandel were assigned with works. Unfortunately, the wages of the job card holders were not paid till date, he added.

For Chandel block, the authority concerned had paid 12 days wages out of 17days wages and for Machi block only six days wages were paid out of 17 days. For Tengnoupal block, only six days wages were paid out of the 17 days wages and 14 days wages were paid to the workers for Chakpikarong block out of the 17 days. While for Moreh block, the authority concerned paid for only six days with a due wage of 11 days, said Rungpwar.

Such general strike or bandh is a big loss to either side of the border, said Thockchom Bina Devi, a border trader from Imphal.

The value of export to Myanmar was estimated to be about Rs 27 crore while goods worth Rs 20 crore were imported in 2012-13.

The strike exempted electricity, PHED, medical, religious service, military force and schools.