Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Mizoram lifeline to be blocked

Mizoram is bound for shortage of essential commodities with organisations in Assam's Cachar district deciding to impose an indefinite blockade on the state's main economic lifeline - the national highway 54 - from 06 00 hours tomorrow, in protest against a weigh bridge at Bagha near Mizoram border.

Various traders' organisations in Bagha and Silchar today decided to go ahead with its earlier plan of economic blockade after a meeting with the concerned Cachar district deputy commissioner failed to bear any positive outcome.

As Mizoram drivers are also "victims" of the weigh bridge, several NGOs in Vairengte town in Mizoram near the Assam and Aizawl-headquartered Mizo Merchants Association have extended full support to the blockade.

"As protest against the weigh bridge is for the larger interest of the public, we appeal to the people of Mizoram to please bear with us," a statement of MIMA said. Earlier, a 72-hour bandh was proposed from 0500 hours on February 7 which however was suspended as Cachar DC , who was away in an official tour, assured to hold talks with the protesters to find a solution.

In a statement, MIMA said that as a weight bridge had already there at Bigarkhal near the Meghalaya border, another weight bridge in Cachar district only cause additional burden to goods carrying trucks.