The All Manipur Tribals Development and Grievances Forum (AMTDGF) have called off its proposed indefinite economic blockade of Imphal-Dimapur road on National Highway No 2 and Imphal-Jiribam road on National Highway No 37.
The AMTDGF on Friday announced in a press note its decision to call off its proposed indefinite economic blockade, stating that the government has assured to release Rs 150 crore under MGNREGA to all 16 districts of Manipur and the remaining balance on phase wise within January 2023 without any delay.
The forum appealed to the Manipur government to release all the executives and blockade supporters detained by the police "without any condition. It also appealed to withdraw arrest warrant issued against AMTDGF executives.
The forum had imposed an indefinite economic blockade from midnight of November 3 along the two highways reportedly due to the government's failure to release Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) funds amounting to Rs 756 crore.
The forum expressed gratitude to the state public and supporters of the AMTDGF call for blockade and agitation in the "highest interest" of job card holders in Manipur (MGNREGA).
At least six AMTDGF members were detained on Thursday by the Manipur police in separate incidents at Kangpokpi and Senapati districts.
The Rural Development and Panchayati Raj department had claimed that the state government had received Rs 756.50 crore for MGNREGS which is meant for all 16 districts of the state, and out of the total amount sanctioned, Rs 100 crore has been disbursed and allocated to all 16 districts while claiming that an additional amount of Rs 150 crore will be released soon and the remaining will be released in due course.
No stranded vehicles ferrying essential commodities were seen along the National Highway 2 in Senapati and Kangpokpi District rather empty trucks moving freely towards Dimapur side were seen and loaded trucks heading towards Imphal were also witnessed but in minimal numbers.
