The Facelift
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: November 13, 2013 -
A saying in Manipuri "Erujadana Heibi Teiba" which means applying make-up without taking bath is exactly what the State Government has been doing all these years.
The annual tourism festival of the State "Sangai Festival" is just knocking at the door.
Hundreds of workers are currently deployed day and night to mend major roads in Imphal area.
The bridges and road medians are also being painted and decorated these days.
All these facelifts are being performed at the last hour, probably after getting confirmation of foreign delegates attending the Sangai Festival.
The motive is very clear- to impress the foreigners during their sojourn in the State.
The roads with large potholes might not have been mended if the foreign delegates have not accepted the invitation of the State Government.
The condition of national highways, state highways and other roads in the State cannot be described by just few words.
The mentality of the State Government shows that it is not really concerned about the people.
If the State Government is able to blacktop the roads in an overnight ahead of some VVIP visit or festival, then it is not impossible to maintain the deplorable roads in tip-top condition.
Had the Government taken up the works sincerely before, it would not have to take much pain in face-lifting the City.
It is necessary to give a good impression to the foreign delegates, but mere facelifts at the last hour won't impress even the people of the State.
The "fake impression" would not be able to attract tourists.
A sincere approach of the State Government is all that is needed to improve road connectivity and other infrastructures.
An overnight blacktopping and whitewashing cannot give an impressive look to the State.
The mentality of "pleasing masters" should be replaced with the noble purpose of "serving people".
Good roads and bridges are some basic infrastructures needed for overall growth and development of the State.
Moreover, the State Government has a mania for "inaugurating new buildings before completion".
The inauguration should mark the functioning of that particular building or facility, but the City Convention Centre, Inter-State Bus Terminus and some other buildings which were inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi about three years back are still non-functional.
These buildings are already becoming wretched before they could be used by the public.
All these silly acts imply that the State Government really cares and always tries to impress their "Delhi Masters" though not the people of the State.
Coinciding with the facelift works of Sangai Festival, some major roads in Imphal area, specially along the stretch of Uripok, have also been blacktopped hurriedly.
There is a gossip going on that the roads are being repaired ahead of marriage ceremony of some VVIP's son.
Ironically, people feel that the State can have good roads and bridges if the President or Prime Minister visits the State every month.
The dusty roads with large potholes would remain in the State as long as the Government keeps on applying make-up without taking bath.
It would be worthwhile to note that we are in the digital age. The foreigners cannot be impressed with such facelifts.
They might have already seen the actual scenario of the State beforehand through the media.
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