ZB decries step motherly treatment
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 31 2016:
The Zeliangrong Baudi, Manipur (ZB-M) while accusing the Government of Manipur of meting out step-motherly treatment to the "tribals and hill areas" in Manipur, has come out with what it called the 'development projects costing crores of rupees wasted or ruined in Tamenglong district' .
ZB-M said that the mini secretariat building at Tamenglong was constructed at the cost of Rs 36 crore by AXCAL Private LTD which was inaugurated by P Chidambaram, the then Union Home Minister in the presence of O Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur and his council of Ministers on November 3, 2011 .
"The said mini secretariat was inaugurated incomplete just to showcase to the public because of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly election due in February 2012," it alleged.
According to the ZB-M, till today, no officer and department is willing to shift to the said building because of its dilapidated condition since it was inaugurated incomplete.
It added that the mini secretariat constructed at the cost of Rs 36 crore from the "State coffer" remained a ruined monument like one of the "pyramids of Egypt" .
The ZB-M then demanded a clarification from the State Government whether the mini secretariat was constructed for sheltering animals or as a picnic spot, pointing out that animals have become regular visitors to the mini secretariat.
It added that the place has also become a regular picnic spot.
The ZB-M then lamented that the roads in Tamenglong district are in deplorable conditions even after investing crores of rupees.
On the Khongsang-Tamenglong road, ZB-M said that in the year 2014, the Ministry of Surface Transport and Highways had sanctioned Ra 13 crore for the widening work and improvement of this 39.5 km from National Highway-37 to Tamenglong headquarters but the road remains deplorable.
Regarding IT Road from Kangpokpi to Tamenglong town via Tamei, the ZB-M said that the road is still in very bad shape inspite of the investment of Rs 100 crore.
ZB-M alleged that the fund has been misused.
On the health front, the ZB-M said "PHSCs and PHCs" have been functioning without adequate doctors, nurses and technicians.
Zeliangrong Baudi, Manipur further alleged that in some health centres there is no electricity, water supply and life saving drugs.
It also pointed out that the construction of the 100 bedded hospital at Tamenglong was started in 2005 but till date it is yet to be completed.
The Zeliangrong Baudi, Manipur then gave reasons why a young IAS officer was transferred from Tamenglong district.
It alleged that Amstrong Pame's 100 km long road construction without a "single penny" from the Government became a humiliation for the Government of Manipur after National media started highlighting the feat.
The ZB-M then stated that the recent plan of the State Government to inaugurate projects in Ukhrul district was a poll gimmick hoodwinking the people as the State Assembly election is round the corner.
It also said that the allegation of attack on the Chief Minister's team was stage-managed.