CM writes to Home and Defence Ministries to probe BRO report on NH-37
BRO claim of 1300 workers fails to convince
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 02 2011:
Not convinced with the report furnished by the BRO about the road repairing/development work on NH-37, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi has written to the Union Defence Minister and the Union Home Minister to conduct an independent enquiry.
An official source informed that the BRO, as claimed in its report, said that 1300 strong workforce is being used in development work of Imphal-Jiribam highway.
However, the Chief Minister, after taking into account the little progress made in the highway development work, despatched a letter to the Union Defence Minister and the Union Home Minister to conduct an independent enquiry on the progress made by BRO on the said highway.
Responding to the letter, the Defence Ministry has reportedly advised the BRO to do what is necessary.
However, there is no response from the side of the Home Ministry.
Despite the Union Cabinet Secretary's proposal to the State Government to provide machinery and labour to the BRO for the highway development work, it is unlikely the State Government would extend any assistance to the BRO.
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There are many ambiguities on how the State should provide assistance to the BRO which is solely responsible for development and maintenance of Imphal-Jiribam highway.
Presently, the BRO is using limited number of bull dozers in the highway development work, informed the official source.
Notably, the BRO has already declared that development work of Imphal-Jiribam highway can be completed by 2013 without Barak and Makru bridges.
On the other hand, the State Government wrote to the BRO to repair dilapidated Makru and Irang bridges in view of the necessity to divert movement of goods carriers from Imphal-Dimapur highway to Imphal-Jiribam highway since last month because of the protracted economic blockades.
Contrary to the BRO's claim of using 1300 labourers, a media team who made a field survey of the highway development work last month found only 17 labourers working near Kambiron.
Elsewhere all along the 222 Kms long highway, no labourers could be seen working.
The BRO has been in charge of Imphal-Jiribam highway since 1964 though the highway was formally opened in May 1973 .