GK Pillai to Meet Chief Secretaries of Nagaland and Manipur

New Delhi, Jun 15 : Voicing "serious concern" over the economic blockade of Manipur by Naga groups, the home ministry has convened an emergency meeting of the chief secretaries of both the states tomorrow to discuss steps to end it.

Home secretary GK Pillai will meet the chief secretaries of Manipur and Nagaland to discuss the current situation and steps to be taken to keep open the NH-39 which is the main and direct road link to Manipur and the economic lifeline of the northeastern state.

"Union home minister P Chidambaram has already spoken to the chief ministers of Nagaland and Manipur to take necessary steps to have the blockade withdrawn," an official spokesperson said here.

The agitating Naga students last night decided to temporarily suspend the blockade. The decision by Naga Students' Federation (NSF) was taken at a meeting in Kohima after its delegation met prime minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi discussing their demands.

At the request of the Manipur government, the ministry has decided to shortly deploy additional para-military forces on NH-39 to remove the blockade and keep the highway open for unhindered movement of traffic and goods, the official said.

The blockade which is nearing two months has crippled normal life in Manipur following shortage of essential supplies resulting from the seize.

Following the blockade of the highway, home ministry is trying to ease the situation by transporting supplies through air-route.

"Two consignments of life saving drugs reached Imphal on May 18, 2010 and additional consignment of life saving drugs weighing 4 MT was airlifted by IAF aircraft on the same day. Between May 17 and May 23, 2010, 492.52 quintals of PDS rice was airlifted from FCI, Guwahati by AN 32 aircraft of Indian Air Force," the official said.

The ministry is also transporting essential supplies using alternative and longer route of NH-53 under the escort of state police since May 21, 2010.

"More than 1000 trucks and tankers with essential commodities such as petroleum products, rice, have reached Manipur through this route. An IL-76 aircraft carried 32 kilo litres of kerosene oil on May 21, 2010 and 48 kilo-liltres of petrol on May 22, 2010," the official said.

The government is also trying to ease the situation in the state by transporting essential commodities through NH 150 with the assistance of Mizoram government, he said.