SSV demands for re-examination of Tamenglong-Halflong Road
Source: IT News
Imphal, October 29 2020:
While appreciating the government for its effort in developing the interior part of the state, the Chramram (Saramba) Segment Voice, has appealed to the concern authorities to review the reported new alignment of Tamenglong-Halflong road by the office of Deputy Commissioner, Tamenglong.
The Chramram (Saramba) Segment Voice on behalf of the people of 11 (eleven) villages including Tousem and Mandiu villages has appealed the Chief Minister and all the concern authorities to re-examine the decision taken by the office of district administration of Tamenglong.
It is our earnest request to re-survey the process of road alignment to connect the Tamenglong-Halflong road through Achintiang, old NEC road.
"It is a fact that the existing old NEC road (i.e Barak bridge to Achintiang) popularly known as the "Gupta Alignment" started its construction in 1960s-70s and is the only road in the area with good gradient connecting to Tousem areas", a statement of the Chramram (Saramba) Segment Voice said.
It added that the Segment villages want the Tamenglong-Halflong road to be constructed and pass through "Achintiang'' (border between Thiulon and Chramram Village), a strategic location on old NEC road where people of the area can be easily connected in the surrounding 11 (eleven) villages and beyond.
However, the Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong have ignored the request made by the area people and re-routed to Phelong-Jeichiktiang which has already been rejected and abandoned by the BRFT in 1 990s.The statement further stated that for many generations have been waiting for this road to pass through it.
With compassion the villagers have given NOC for the zero-land compensation but it seems that the district administration is just manipulating the innocent people without considering the value of land in this era.
Despite the request being made by the villagers the Deputy Commissioner sought to re-route to a new alignment of Phelong-Jeichiktiang, a new alignment and new cutting which is not better than the NEC alignment.
There are high suspicions that the Deputy Magistrate has convinced the young engineers of National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) who came for the road survey and inspections.
We appeal and request the engineers of NHIDCL to take a better look of how good the grade is in old NEC alignment (from Barak bridge point to Achintiang—Makhu river) and compare it with the new proposed alignment.
"In a participatory democracy, ignoring the people's mandate and going against the wishes of the people is like genocide.
The DC has even by-passed the appeal put forward by the elected representative of the Chramram ADC Segment.
Accountability and transparency are the core of good governance.
We expect the office of deputy commissioner to be more transparent.
The Chramram ADC segment is the only Rongmei speaking area in the whole Tousem-Tamei constituency.
And none of the Rongmei speaking villages will be connected in the proposed new alignment.
If the Highway is re-routed, then it is a great injustice done to the Rongmeis living in Tousem sub-division.
The Tamenglong -Halflong road will eventually become a Trans Asian Highway, therefore public opinion and mutual consensus should be taken as the utmost important", the statement said.
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