Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh said on Friday that preliminary talks between the official delegation and representatives of the All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM), to end the 40-day old economic blockade on national highways, had been positive.

Speaking at a function at All Manipur Working Journalists' Union office in Imphal, Singh said efforts were being made to settle the issue with ANSAM and hoped that the talks would bring about a solution to the present agitation.

The chief minister said the centre's attention had been drawn to the sufferings of the people due to the blockade and added that all possible measures would be taken so as not to interrupt the supply of essential items to common people.

At least five battalions of security forces were required for deployment along Imphal-Silchar national highway for free movement of trucks and other vehicles, Singh said without however, elaborating on how many security battalions had been deployed along the highway at present.

He said the Indian Oil Corporation [Get Quote] (IOC) had agreed to pay the transport charges of trucks carrying liquified petroleum gas cylinders, petrol, diesel and petroleum products to Manipur from outside.

The solution to frequent economic blockade on national highways would be the completion of railway line from Jiribam, a border town near Cachar district of Assam, to Toupul, about 35 kms west of Imphal, he added.