Alternative routes declared by administration due to road blockade by HPC Revival Committee on Wednesday

September 26: Alternative routes for vehicles were declared by the District Magistrate of Hailakandi in the backdrop of ‘Road Blockade’ convened by HPC Paper Mill Revival Action Committee on Wednesday. The Action Committee has already given a clarion call for agitation in a press meet held on September 18, when they declared that “We don’t want any discussion, we want declaration.” As a sequence, the committee has resorted to Blockade of National Highway No: 6 (at Katigorah/Kalain point) & National Highway No: 37 (at Panchgram Dholeswari point) on 26 September. The said blockade will start at 9 in the morning and continue till 1 in the afternoon.

In the leaflet distributed by the Action Committee, it was stated that “the agitation has been called to register protest against neglecting attitude of State & Central government towards the employees by deliberately delaying to restart & revive HPC Paper Mills of Assam. The employees of Panchgram Paper Mill are passing their days in great distress without any salary since a long period of time.” The Action Committee has made a fervent appeal to all the Citizens of Barak Valley, includes intellectuals, NGO’s, Students Organizations, Clubs, Political parties irrespective of differences to come forward & actively participate in ‘Road Blockade’ Agitation.

Adil Khan, District Magistrate of Hailakandi in a letter issued to the Police Super of Hailakandi declared alternative routes for plying of vehicles instead of Dhaleswar-Bhairabi route. In this regard, Mr. Khan has specified five diversions:

• Silchar-Dwarbond-Hailakandi route for the vehicles leading to Silchar to Hailakandi.
• Vehicles to Hailakandi from Silchar will come via Naraianpur-Algapur road and Salchapra-Mohanpur-Algapur road.
• Vehicles leading towards Guwahati-Shillong from Silchar may go from END colony, Silchar via Ranighat Bridge to Kalain.
• Silchar-Udarbond-Haflong for vehicles leading to Silchar-Halflong-Guwahati.
• Vehicles from Karimganj district to Hailakandi-
• 1. Karimganj-Achimganj-R.K. Nagar-Hailakandi
  2. Karimganj-Mokoi Bhanga-Bhairab Nagar-Hailakandi

It now depends on the HPC Paper Mill Revival Action Committee, whether they will carry on with their road blockade in the places as declared by them or also make plans to block even the alternative routes.