Hand over this 1 crore per km money spinning Imphal-Jiri road (NH-39) to Army
- they will complete it within 6 months -

Dr. Th. Suresh Singh *

Deplorable condition of NH 37 - Imphal Jiribam Road on December 06 2011 :: Pix - Maibam Karnajit/Hueiyen Lanpao

The more we think about this Imphal- Jiri Road, the more we Manipuris got angrier and angrier.

Look at this National Highway (NH) which was inaugurated in May, 1972. At that time, the journey took around 10 hours. Now during the rainy season last year, it took 1-4 days for one journey alone. What a shameful affairs for our state and for this Nation i.e. India even after 65 years of independence. Will this situation arise in other parts of India? Not at all. It will happen only in Manipur. Because we specializes in such affairs. In spite of many huge and cry, in spite of many tall promises, nothing happens.

Let me recapitulate some of the noises we made:

1) A respected women's organization even met UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi twice; they were assured that the NH will be completed on schedule.

2) The Truck owners' association visited this road on 20/6/2011. Seeing the condition of the NH, it challenged the authority that it cannot be completed in 2013, but may complete by 2030.

3) Information Centre for Hill Areas, Manipur (ICHAM) visited the NH on 14th - 16th September, 2011. It met BRTO commander B.N. Jadav who told the team that some portion of the highway was handed over to ABC India Ltd. and Gautam Construction. The team found only 17 labourers working at Kambiron, and stated that the highway cannot be completed by 2040.

This is contrary to what Defence Minister (under whom BRO is working) A.K. Antony's report to CM on 27th July, 2011 that 7 officers, 169 staff and 1280 labourers were working on this NH and further added that it can be completed by December, 2013. Another 9th August report from the Centre to the State Govt. further stated that 1,300 labourers were working on this highway. ICHAM submitted its findings to State Governor and CM, but no action was taken in spite of assurances.

ICHAM's 2nd visit was on 4th - 5th December, 2011. They found that
i) Gautam Company was doing good work,
ii) No work on 100 km.,
iii) Challenged the authority that in another 10 years, the Highway cannot be completed.

It also challenged that with a few labourers working, where was 4.64 crore per year labour charges gone? In spite of all these glaring deflects, Commander Jadav stated that the Highway will be completed by December, 2013. What a tall order; what is fascinating reply? This Commander thinks that he can bluff not only the Manipuris but also the Central leaders.

ICHAM's 3rd visit was on 12th -13th February, 2012. It found overall improvement with Gautam and ABCI Company doing good work. However, it found very disappointing progress in BRTO section with only 100 labourers working and no progress on Makru and Barak Bridge.

The new BRTO commander, Colonel Bell told the ICHAM group that 30% work had been completed, 75% will be completed by March 2013 and expect 100% completion by December, 2013. He further stated that there was some stone quarry problem and the same was reported to the State Govt.

4) The Joint Monitoring Committee on NH-37 formed under the directive of Hon'ble Gauhati High Court visited the Highway 1st in August, 2011 and 2nd on 18th - 19th December, 2011, and found that only 156 - 200 labourers were working.

5) There was a high level meeting at New Delhi presided by Home Minister Chidambaram along with CM Ibobi and BRO Officials on 21st December, 2010. It stated that there will be a worthy road by February, 2011. What is the condition of this NH presently i.e. May, 2012? A very shameful affairs.

6) There was a review meeting recently by Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh on 25/4/2012 at New Delhi and found disappointing progress with only 620 labourers working on the NH. It gave many instructions to the BRO.

7) On 30th April, 2012, the High Power Monitoring Committee submitted a report to the Gauhati High Court. Details were not disclosed.

8) New PWD Minister Dr. Ratankumar visited the Highway on 7th May, 2012 and expressed his anxiety over the progress. The Minister instructed the BRO officials to complete it before rainy season.

9) Very recently on 12th May, 2012, the Minister of State for Defence Pallum Raju visited the Highway by road and told the reporters that it will be completed by December, 2013 as planned. The visit was accompanied by CM Ibobi and his colleagues. It is a very welcome development. Had the Centre taken it seriously like this long before, the Highway would have been completed long long ago and Manipur would have been spared from many many troubles.

The question is how many Kilometer is constructed per day or year on this Highway? UPA's ambitions plan is to construct 35,000 Km. of NH is 5 yrs. Recently, the Parliamentary Committee headed by CMP's Sitaram Yechury scolded National Highway Authority of India for the slow progress. The committee found the progress as - 13.72 Km./day in 2009-10, 6.16 Km./day in 2010-11 and 10.39 Km./day in 2011-12.

Even if we compare with this slow national figure, Imphal-Jiri NH progress is woeful. Forget about progress per day, one has to ask show many Km./yr. is covered? BRO cannot answer that.

What is the latest scenario now?

1) Progress has been made after the new Commander Colonel Bell took charge. He is doing far better than the previous one.

2) The State has taken up the issue with the Central Government. Subsequently, the Defence Ministry, under whom BRO works, has lately taken more initiatives. The Home Ministry has also taken keen interests.

3) In spite of all these, the 62 km. long Khonshang to Jiri section is in very bad shape, the Makru and Barak bridge is disappointing - no tender, etc. initiated for new construction.

4) Though MOS Defence's visit on 12/5/2012 is laudable, the disappointing part is his unvisit to the worst area i.e. from Khongshang to Jiri. Why he did not visit this section and why State Govt. and the media did not ask the Hon'ble Minister about this is still a mystery.

5) BRTO is pointing out difficulty in obtaining stone quarry for the last 2 years to the State Govt. Why our Govt. cannot solve this is itself a very very unfortunate episode.

What is to be done?

1) Solve the stone quarry problem by earmarking one PWD official for the same and taking up the matter with the local MLAs + local leaders. It is the easiest part. The State should be shameful about this.

2) High Power Monitoring Committee report under Gauhati High Court, submitted on 30/4/2012 should be made public. The public has a right to know this. The questionable part is - cannot the honourable court enquired into the BRTO conduct, cannot the court give specific punishment to BRTO?

3) BRO is repeatedly bluffing the Centre/State/Public by stating and sending report that around 1,300 labourers are working per day in this Highway whereas actually only 17 - 200 labourers are working as found out by many visiting teams. This bluff should be investigated. How much money has been drained without work should be investigated.

4) Out of the Rs. 225 crore earmarked, how much has been spent should be clearly stated and informed to the public. This should be investigated by the CBI, the sooner the better. Our State Govt. should press the Centre for the same. Keeping aside State Govt. corruption for the time being, why the Centre is allowing Manipur to be a corruption infested, money spinning state by a famous Central agency i.e. BRO?

Conclusion

In any case, the Highway cannot be completed by December, 2013; a workable road may however be available during this period. We will be lucky if this Highway (including Makru and Barak bridge) is completed in another 5 years keeping the present progress in mind.

Considering all these facts, hand over this 1 crore per km money spinning National Highway to the Army. They will complete it within 6 months. In spite of Indian Army's bad image in Manipur i.e. torture, rap, fake encounter, misuse of AFSPA etc., the writer firmly presume that at least they can solve this one within 6 months.