National Highway 2 Maintenance: Remember Khongnem Thana
Mamta Lukram *
National Highway 2 (NH-2) cut off due to heavy rains at Khongnem Thana in October 2020 :: Pix - David M Mayum
The only reliable national highway of Manipur is the erstwhile Highway 39, now Asian Highway 2, connecting route to the country. A few hours observation along its stretch will serve good understanding about its relevance.
Days and nights are congested with traffic and cargo movements. Road widening activities at certain sections are current visible ongoing process, the completion of which will enhance undisturbed traffic flows. Throughout the years Highway 2, Imphal-Dimapur Highway has been the sole trace supporting the basic necessities of its people. Many used to address it as 'Highway of Life.'
Inclusion of Manipur in landslides hazard zonal map of India, ranging within very high to high landslide prone zone, underscores the challenges possessed in highway management. During the rainy season, when there occurs incessant rainfalls for days and week, land-slides, mud-slides and sinking edges are foreseen disasters.
Lining in queue the vehicles stuck in both sides of the damaged portion waiting for hours is the follow-up phenomenal reality. Emergency services are far cry during those moments of natural disaster. Movements are marked by uncertainty during rainy season.
National Highway 2 Maintenance at Khongnem Thana
Timeline indicating remarkable incidents of natural disaster along this highway in the past many years is the testimony. Mudslide of Gopibung, Keithelmanbi area, in 2004 could be described as millennium's one worst kind. Besides, there are several cases every preceding year. In one portion or the other, each year the highway has its own story of grievances at different intervals of time.
Frequent commuters along this highway for professional, business or personal purposes would understand the inconveniences. From small children, students to elderly, business trips to medical treatment purposes, ceremonial vehicles to cargo and many more, the highway have serving its people.
Students in school and college uniforms are common view of this stretch. Dysfunctional in any part of it affects the whole related functional system.
Nevertheless, visible positive development has been experienced since the year 2019 onwards. Dedicated road construction activities for enhanced vehicular movements started carrying out in the highway under the initiative of Bharat Infra Project Limited (BIPL).
Company nametags were put up in overall sites of construction activities. Heavy machineries, vehicles, work sites, settlement sites, signboards, equipment and men at work in progress were the silent features for many months of the preceding years.
By the year end of the year, the road condition improved in such a rate, except for some portion in Sapromeina, the road condition from Imphal to Mao gate was recommendable for its efficient management. The famed 'Cherry Blossom Festival' of Mao Gate, Manipur organised every first week of December bear resemblance with the improved road.
Once a Post- Graduate student who went to visit the spot during early part of 2019 remarked;
'We in high spirit, to experience the beauty of Nature, get down to Mao Flower Festival spot. My eye-lashes were applied 'mascara' as beauty tips. Later, in the travel, dust accumulated making eye-lash becoming heavy, dusty as well. Everyone commented it's not 'mascara' but 'Dustcara.'
National Highway 2 Maintenance at Khongnem Thana
By mid-2019, everytime while travelling along the well-maintained highway felt appreciating the road construction initiative, also recommending that young girl to visit again applying mascara.
Unfortunately, followed by incessant rain for weeks, on October 25th 2020, a massive landslide took place at Khongnem Thana village of the NH-2. The landslide is known to cause a depression of almost 40-50 feet in length and 30 feet in depth putting the traffic on a halt. Media reports mentioned that more than 200 load trucks were stranded along the highway.
Concerned department of the state took up immediate response. It took more than a week in completing operational activities of cutting out a new route replacing the damaged one. Immediate land acquisition with consent from the villagers was made to reconstruct the new approach road negotiating with compensation. The measures enabled smooth flow of traffic till date.
However, the damaged portion has been mended in more temporary manner. The surrounding area and the same spot are prone to more adverse conditions if not taken care in time. 'A stitch in time saves nine' is a relevant comparison of this place. Attention is sought from responsible authority of the Government of Manipur to look into the matter.
Villagers and regular passengers would extend a hearty gratitude to the government if needful measures are taken up in time. It would reduce the anxieties of the people when another wet season arrives with incessant rain. Landslides and restrictions of the traffic movements for days and week causes big economic loss, shatter aspirations, separate many from their families and created unseen hardships.
Difficult must be highway maintenance in fragile soil of hilly rough terrain with monsoon vagaries, yet efficient management with effective precautionary measures are expected. Check mechanisms to avoid traffic flow disruption will minimise public hardships. This is a humble clarion for heed to all responsible concerns by a heavy traffic zone at a fragile vulnerable plight.
The aesthetic natural beauty of hilly tracts could boost more with enhanced connectivity. When people inside the same state are unable to easily reach out in within, development talks instil a different taste. Before another rainy season arrives, before the temporary management stops supporting, Please do remember the once landslide portion of Khongnem Thana of National Highway 2 while shine.
National Highway 2 Maintenance at Khongnem Thana
* Mamta Lukram wrote this article for e-pao.net
The writer can be contacted at mamtalukram(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
This article was webcasted on January 17 2022.
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