By – BuyamayumLiyaquat Ali
Tension between India and China is at the edge of boiling point. North eastern states of India will play an important role to counter China economically, politically and strategically. Manipur is a small state of India neighbouring Myanmar but the state doesn’t have railroad after 73 years of Independence. The planned project of railroad is in progress but it will take few years to complete the project due to lack of political will by state government and negligence by the central government. Manipur has only two Members of Parliament and it plays an important factor in delaying the project of railroad. Recently Manipur BJP MP, Dr. Ranjan Singh takes up the dissatisfactory progress of Jiribam – Imphal railway project in parliament and in response to his query Minister of Railways replied that firm completion time of the project cannot be ascertained citing the terrain condition of the region and Covid-19 pandemic.
Most of the northeast states doesn’t have large scale industrial outputs. So almost all the technical and industrial goods are transported into this state from mainland India. Transportation cost of goods from West Bengal or Assam by road is high because it has to cross two state with a distance of around 1400 km. Condition of roadways in this hilly region is also in pathetic condition. On the other hand the International market situated at the border of Manipur and Myanmar is less than 100 km from Imphal. This market is filled with Chinese items. Chinese goods transported through Myanmar are cheaper due to less transportation charge and other reasons. Large chunk of people in Manipur and other North east states opt for cheaper Chinese goods due to less per capita income which in turn affects the Indian economy. If the Jiribam – Imphal railway project is completed, India can counter the Chinese economic expansion.Developing proper rail connectivity in Manipur will have more economic advantage than banning of Chinese smartphone applications like TikTok, UC Browser, Likee etc. The planned rail link passing through Manipur in India’s Look East Policy will eventually connected to the Myanmar railway system, allowing onward connectivity to other Southeast Asian countries which will promote tourism and enhanced trade link for India. It is also pertinent to mention that North eastern states registered over 30 per cent growth in GST collection during the first four months of 2019-20 fiscal year, much more than the increase witnessed in larger manufacturing states. Growth in Goods and Services Tax collection recorded by most of the seven sister states is over three times the national average of 9 per cent.
It is an open secret that money and muscle power plays a vital role in Indian politics.Terrorist organizations has an influence among the people of Manipur andthey use their power to have a say in the political affairs of the hilly areasin Manipur. They also interfere in the election process of Manipur by destroying polling booths and other unfair practices. Arms and ammunitions to these terrorist organizations comes indirectly from China. So China can use her link against India. If these organizations doesn’t like any political decision of the government there is continuous threat of blockade in National Highways passing through the hilly region of Manipur and this threat is supported by their overground workers. So railroad is necessary to avoid the politics of threatin National Highways.
In the event of war with China, Manipur will be a strategic point. A forward airbase for Indian airforce can be constructed in Manipur. To have an Armed forces supply depot in Manipurwill be beneficial for India since Manipur is neither an immediate neighbour nor much far from China. Transportation of Armed forces and ammunitions from other places to Manipur requires proper rail connectivity.
****The writer is an Ex-Navy & RTI activist
