Imphal, July 05 2010: Welcoming the state government decision to develop NH-53, Women's United Development Organisation, Manipur (WUDOMAN) today lauded the Governor and the Chief Minister of Manipur for the decision.

Interacting with the media persons, the president of WUDOMAN, L Phajabi said on August 23rd, 2005 WUDOMAN along with other meira paibis organizations organized a tour of the NH-53 to inspect the conditions of the road in wake of the economic blockade called by some hill organizations on the lifelines of Manipur during that time.

From that time onwards WUDOMAN had been pressing the Central Government to develop the said highway.

But the efforts of the meira paibis had been forgotten and the state government tried to take the credit.

L Phajabi further said that from 2005 the meira paibis had submitted memoranda to the then Governor of Manipur, SS Sidhu and the Chief Minister, Ibobi to give priority to NH-53 for its development.

But the government did not heed them.

She said that the meira paibis welcome the decision of the state government to develop the Imphal-Jiribam road in wake of the recent two month long economic blockade on national highways.

The efforts of the meira paibis to develop the highway should not be forgotten.

The Secretary of WUDOMAN, Binakumari said that on August 23, 2005 WUDOMAN along with other organizations namely Ima Leibak Thougal Lup, Imphal, United Peoples' Council, Thongju, WUDOMAN branches of Nambol, Kiyamgei and Langthabal, Khonang Pheidekpi Meira Paibi and United Women Voluntary organistion had inspected the conditions of Imphal-Jiribam road.

The inspection team facing all odds went up to Jiribam.

On February 19th, 2006, the same team inspected the same stretch of highway and met the Commander of 36 BRTF, MP Singh at Silchar.

The report of the inspection was submitted to the president of All India Congress Committee, Sonia Gandhi on March 20th of that year and a video on the conditions of Imphal-Jiribam road was shown to her.

Following this, a sum of Rs 17 crores was sanctione by the Central Government for the development of NH-53 .

In August 4th last year MP Singh, the Commander of BRTF informed that another Rs 13 crores was sanctioned to convert NH-53 into double lane.

After the press meet, WUDOMAN screened the video recordings of the conditions of Imphal-Jiribam road to the media persons.