Highway report tabled at High Court
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 30 2012:
The high-power committee which has been monitoring development work of Imphal-Jinbam highway (NH 37) has submitted a report on the present condition of the highway to Gauhati High Court.
According to an official source, the report of the nine-member high-power monitoring committee was submitted to the High Court on April 25 .
The report was prepared by the Transport Director who is also the convenor of the high-power committee after taking opinions and assessments of all the members following a field assessment tour along the highway from April 14 to 16 .
A PIL was filed at Gauhati High Court by general secretary of the Manipur Drivers' Welfare Association M Tomba and the general secretary of the Drivers' Union H Kulamani.
The PIL contended that the progress of the highway development work was quite incompatible with the amount of money released to BRO for the same purpose.
After hearing the PIL, the High Court directed the Government to constitute a high-power committee and submit a report after making a field assessment of the highway.
The Government of India has now started paying due attention to the development work of NH 37 as the same highway is seen as the second lifeline of Manipur.
In addition to the high-power committee, the Chief Vigilance Commissioner has also inspected the highway at the instruction of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
The Chief Vigilance Commissioner enquired into all the details like whether the work progress achieved by BRO was compatible with the amount sanctioned, whether qualitative aspect was given due importance or not, how many labourers were engaged, how much money was spent in paying wages etc.
informed the source.
Moreover, the Ministry of Home Affairs has been monitoring the highway work after instructing the BRO DG to shoulder greater responsibility in the same project.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has been reviewing the project together with concerned officials every month.
Further, the Union Home Secretary has been sending work reports to the Government of India after every three months, added the source.