Central team in Manipur to do reality check

Imphal, July 31 (NNN): A powerful 14-member Central team from New Delhi has arrived in Imphal today to take the first hand knowledge of the prevailing situation in Manipur. The Central team include Secretary of the Border Management of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) A. E. Ahmed, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Northeast in-charge Naveen Verma, DoNER  Joint Secretary Dr J.P. Sharma, CMD of Food Corporation of India Siraj Hussain, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Dr R. S Shukla, FCI Executive Director Dr Amar Singh, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Apurbachandra, Director of the PMO Darbindra Sandhu and top Ministry of Railway officers.
The shortage of essential commodities in Manipur in the aftermath of the 68-day economic blockade of the Naga students and the subsequent Manipur transporters’ body boycotting of the National Highway-39 have given immense hardship to the people of Manipur as essential commodities are not available. Those items available are to high a price for the common man to afford them. The fuel scarcity has been the main problem in the state.
In a two-day visit to the state, the officials who arrived today in Imphal said that they are here to sort out the problem. Soon after they arrived in Imphal, the Central team enclosed themselves with Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh for almost four hours discussing the prevailing situation of the state. The meeting was also participated by the state chief secretary, cabinet ministers, top security officers including the state force and the Army.
The Central team also met the state Governor today. Talking to some media persons at the Imphal airport on their arrival, the members of the Central team said that they were here to sort out the problem of the scarcity of commodities. The Central team will meet different sections of the people here as part of gathering the first hand knowledge of the prevailing situation.
The issue of frequent bandhs in the state and frequent calling of blockades on the national highways leading to Manipur will also be discussed with the state government on Sunday, according to reliable sources. The team will then give certain directives to the concerned authorities so that the improvement works along the National Highway-53 is sped up, the sources added.