Imphal, August 27 2010: Even as the State Government has decided to devolve financial responsibilities to the ADCs, the road stretch from Pallel to Chandel district headquarters, covering a mere distance of 18 kms, has exposed the pathetic conditions of the roads in the hills where denied basic need such as a pucca road are absent.

The road stretch was black topped less than two years ago.

But it is already strewn with numerous potholes as the quality of the work had not been maintained at the time of repairing by 28 contractors who too had to manage with the percentage cut of some many UG groups.

Large pot holes dot the road stretch starting right from the turning from Pallel, Thamla Khuren, Kapam, Komlathabi, Wangparel, Chandonpokpi, Phaipi, Heibunglok, Ringkhu, Liwakhuren, Sarei, Leikun Sarei, Paraolon, New Khongjon, the areas where District Electricity, Sericulture, Fisheries, Statistics Department offices are located and upto Chandel district headquarters, exposing the chink in the development works of the Government.

Talking to mediapersons in this connection at Chandel district headquarters today, representatives of United NGOs Mission Manipur, Chandel and NGO Forum, Chandel observed that road block to protest will not serve any purpose as the deplorable condition of the road itself has already made it unworthy for vehicular movements ! .

Convenor of United NGO Mission Manipur, Chandel Y Romeo Chothe stressed on the urgent need to improve the existing condition of Pallel-Chandel road and pointed out that officials who come to attend offices in the district headquarters by bus take atleast 2 hours to reach.

So, for the to and fro journey, they have to spend atleast 4 hours.

As a consequent, officials coming from Imphal could not spend more time working in the office.

When the media team met Additional District Commission N Nabakishore in his office chamber in connection with the condition of the road, he informed that task for maintenance of the road has been handed over to BRO.

But there is no immediate possibility on starting the work by BRO due to various reasons including the proposal for expansion of the road, identification of the would be affected private land and payment of due compensation in this regard.

Nonetheless, before BRO takes over the task officially, the fact remains that the present deplorable condition of the road calls for immediate improvement at least to make it serviceable either by the Works Department or private contractors.

In addition to deplorable condition of the road, the district is lagging behind in terms of health care as well.

In this regard, president of NGO Forum, Chandel PS Ngamnong Anal pointed out that the district hospital is supposed to have 50 beds.

But there are not more than 16 beds.

Apart from absence of the required different wards, there is also no adequate doctors in the hospital.

The existing telephone service in the district is wanting in many ways, he added.

Advisor of the Forum M Moses Maring said that the Public District System in the district has failed completely.

The public have not been receiving their due share of the BPL and APL items all these years.

Even if these items were denied to the people, at least the cards should be issued to them.