Manipur's Developing Culture & Alternative Lifeline

Radhabinod Koijam *

It is heartening to learn that a seminar was held at Imphal on National Highways in Manipur. Prof. N. Mohendro Singh of MU, an eminent Economist told the seminar that the State loses rupees two crores when NH-39 is blocked for a day, but the worrying aspect is the developing culture of calling a bandh or a strike at the drop of a pin oblivious to the suffering of the public.

Another prominent participant, Dr. Horam, expressed that every single Manipuri has a responsibility in what is happening on the National Highways and that people have developed the culture of reacting negatively to any wrong action. One could only hope that wisdom will dawn on the groups supporting the continuing bandh.

Manipur should appreciate the prompt response of the Centre on development of NH-53. Constantly harassed by various types of crimes perpetrated by different elements while using National Highway-39, the latest being the incident of last month, wanted to develop National Highway-53 linking Imphal to Badarpur (Assam) via Jiribam as alternative lifeline. An all party delegation led by the Chief Minister met the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister on 27th September and submitted a memorandum in this connection. The highway is under construction by the Border Road Organisation (BRO), which is under Ministry of Defence.

The PMO called a meeting to discuss the issue this month on 8th, which was attended by two Joint Secretaries and the Director (R) of the PMO; representatives of Manipur Government, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Defence & BRO and Ministry of Home Affairs. The meeting decided to complete construction of the highway between Imphal and Jiribam in two-lanes by June 2005 and BRO was asked to draw up an action plan by 15th November 2002 (otherwise completion of construction of Imphal-Badarpur Road of NH-53 was due much after 2010).

The likes of the incident of last month on NH-39 near Pipima are not new and exclusive to this sector. We hear so frequently of looting of buses and of other serious crimes committed routinely with impunity on the Pallel-Morey sector of it. Was it not only a few days back that some journalists were abducted from it for reasons not public yet and released after some days? Is NH-53 free of such nuisances? Border Road Organisation has many things to say on this.

The chronic problems of Manipur are non-governance, fiscal mismanagement, and bad law & order. Non-governance or mis-governance is the mother of all State's ill. Here, I am not speaking about the present Government but of Government in general. The present Government is no different from others, which have preceded it. The cure does not lie in changing Government but in making it work for development and for the people.

Instability of Government has worked havoc in Manipur. Those who are forecasting sunny weather with change of guards are joking and are aiming at their own good days. I don't hold any brief for the present Government but the culture of toppling Government every second day for the benefits of politicians should be done away with like the culture of calling strikes/bandhs for nothing. It is time to learn lessons. But the Ibobi ministry, known as IGP (Ibobi + Gaikhangam + Phungzathang) ministry should also be warned to perform and deliver or else perish like three musketeers.

Completion of NH-53 on the agreed dateline would not be easy and without problems unless we are ready to be responsible and supportive. BRO complained in the meeting at PMO on the problems faced by them on this road:
that Manipur and its two highways, NH-39 and NH-53, are under frequent bandhs affecting work and transportation of materials and man power;
that there are many extremist groups hampering the work with frequent looting of cash, hijacking of vehicles and attack on their personnel on this road;
that engagement of outside labourers was resisted by local people but when local labourers were engaged work - input was hardly 40% of that of outside labourers;
that road construction materials, were not made available by locals and no quarrying was allowed;
that because of a court case for land compensation work on a portion of the road was stopped for a long time;
that Manipur Government never helped them in time of difficulties.

PMO sent a missive to the Chief Secretary of Manipur on the 16th this month stipulating actions to be taken by State Government on issues raised in the meeting. It was further suggested to identify certain officials of the State to liaison with BRO to resolve their local problems and to make district Revenue and Police officials visit BRO personnel from time to time to help.

It would also be necessary for the State Government to take up works simultaneously to identify and arrange supply points of petroleum products and other essential items for Manipur on the Badarpur side of Assam.

It is clear that the Centre wants to help Manipur. The question is whether Manipur will rise to the occasion. It will serve Manipur well if we clearly understand that the work being executed on NH-53 is for the sole benefit of Manipur and is thus incumbent on us to take active interest in it, to remove all hurdles and to encourage the BRO to be more involved and dedicated to complete the work in time and qualitatively.

All social groups too should help. The ball is in the court of Manipur.