“National Highways have become swimming pool”

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 2

President of All Manipur United Clubs Organisation, Ph. Deban Sharma said though the BJP led state government claims to give priority to development of hill areas, the two main National Highways are not properly maintained. 

Speaking to media at the Manipur Press Club this afternoon, Deban said repairing of road way for national highway was given responsibility to BRTF, on the behest of a long ‘game plan’ by the company. But as state Rongmei Naga Youth Organisation and AMUCO exposed the game plan of BRTF, the company left on October 26 last year, he added.

He said repairing and maintenance of road was given to two companies after it was taken over from BRTF. The progress of the work taken up by the two companies is much faster than the BRTF, but there is no plan of constructing drainage and culverts, he added.

“Without drainage and culvert the black topping of the highway roads are easily washed away by rain water during rainy season. Different civil bodies have complained regarding the issue to the transport ministry but they seem to be least bothered”, Deban lamented. 

What is the hidden agenda behind the repairing work of National Highway which does not include construction of drainage systems and culverts, he asked.

Further the AMUCO president demanded that detail work report of the Highway repair and maintenance must be made public. 

President of state Rongmei Naga Youth Organisation, Singamlung Gangmei said road of Rangkhung village near Noney (Imphal-Tamenglong road) is becoming ‘swimming pool’ and many commuters are facing severe problems.

He said repairing of roads has been handed over to National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and HVS, NIDHI, BIPL are working under the corporation. But the companies do not have any plan for construction of drainage system and culverts.

State Rongmei Naga Youth Organisation and AMUCO have submitted a memorandum to chief minister regarding the issue on May 20 but no response has been made from the government’s side, Singamlung added.

State Rongmei Naga Youth Organisation has also submitted a memorandum to the general manager of NHIDCL. According to the reply of NHIDCL on June 30, it is said that construction of drainage and culverts will be started at the earliest.

Singamlung further said the assurance was made on June 30 but still the work is left to be seen. He demanded that an agent must be authorised to start construction work of drainage and culvert within seven days by the authority concerned. If not, agitation will be launched, he warned.