From turning a circle to a square... To inaugurating to inspection
- Sangai Express Editorial :: February 14, 2014 -

How do you turn a circle into a square? Simple, rename Connaught Circle to Rajiv Square.

This was the inimitable TVR Shenoy in The Week many decades back.

Cut to the present and Manipur and the question is, how do you turn an inauguration programme into an inspection tour? Simple, refuse to inaugurate the structure citing poor quality work and literally turn it into an inspection tour.

The author of this script is the Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur, Mr Gaikhangam.

What unfolded at Ekalavya Model Residential School at Moreh in Chandel district on February 11 would have elicited guffaws from every section of the society, if it was not such a serious matter.

To go back to the story, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who is also in charge of Tribal Affairs along with MTDC Chairman Manga Vaiphei, Parliamentary Secretary, Tribal Affairs, Victor Keishing, Tengnoupal AC MLA D Korungthang along with a host of officers from the Manipur Tribal Development Corporation proceeded to Moreh to inaugurate Ekalvya Model Residential School but far from an inaugural ceremony, the poor and shoddy manner in which the hostel was constructed reduced the visit to some sort of an inspection tour, with Mr Gaikhangam flatly refusing to inaugurate the hostel.

That the school building was inaugurated was perhaps the only saving grace.

This is perhaps the first time that a Minister had refused to inaugurate a Government structure on finding the poor quality of the work and this says something very, very significant.

That it also came close to the collapse of an RCC bridge while it was in the process of being built over the Iril river at Keirao Litan Makhong should illustrate how the understanding of quality work has been consigned to the dustbin of incompetency, lethargy and of course corruption in the State.

A deadline has already been set, that is April 30 to complete the construction of the hostel with quality but it would have been that much more satisfying and ‘spicy' if responsibilities had been fixed at the spot and the responsible officials and contractors nailed.

Some years back, the State witnessed the then Works Minister K Ranjit testing the quality of a work structure with a hammer at Moreh.

That piece of action was captured on camera and occupied prime space in all the Imphal based newspapers, leaving the people with a smirk on their faces but it should be obvious to all now that no lessons have been learnt at all.

This is not all.

Many a time local residents have staged protests against the poor quality of work at their localities, with some even plucking the recently black topped road with their bare hands to demonstrate the poor standard of the work executed.

Viewed against this backdrop, what Mr Gaikhangam did in refusing to inaugurate the hostel of the school at Moreh should have become a trend a long, long time back.

But better late than never and hopefully the message has sunk into the consciousness of the people concerned.

On the other hand, poor standard or lack of quality maintenance in any work taken up in the State can be traced to the unholy nexus between the political class, the contractors and the officialdom.

In refusing to inaugurate the school hostel, the Deputy Chief Minister did manage to strike a tough stand, but at the same time many other fingers may also be pointed to the Government itself.

If the poor standard of the work constrained the Deputy Chief Minister from inaugurating a school hostel, what about the inaugurated but yet to be opened to the public Inter-State Bus Terminus as well as the City Convention Centre? Quality maintenance cannot be seen in one instance.

It should cover the whole spectrum of the development works taken up by the Government.

Mr Gaikhangam has already had his say.

Now we would like to hear what he or the Government would like to say about the ISBT and the CCC which have been inaugurated but are yet to be opened to the public with the former literally turned into a public toilet !