Faulty PMGSY road alignment peeves Ukhrul border villages
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik

Ukhrul, May 14 2017: Eight villages lying on the border in Ukhrul district have come together and formed a Joint Action Committee to take a firm stand against what they have termed as the slip shodded manner in which the road construction work under the PMGSY has been taken up.

The eight villages are Sahamphung, Roni, Ronsak, Matiyang, Chammu, Khayang, Phungtha and Kachouphung.

The hope of the villagers has been belied by the indifferent attitude of the contractors and the department concerned, said the headman of Khayang village while interacting with the media.

The repeated appeals for realignment of the road connecting Sahamphung and Kachouphung, which passes through a steep gradient have fallen on deaf ears, he lamented.

Faulty PMGSY road alignment peeves Ukhrul border villages

To take a first hand account of the road construction work, DCC Councillor of Chatric village, Yangmi conducted a joint inspection of the PMGSY road from Shirui village to Kachouphung village, covering a distance of more than 100 kilometres along with a team of the media from Ukhrul and village leaders yesterday.

The deviation of the road alignment was done without consulting the villages concerned, he said and added that the specifications and guidelines laid down for road construction under PMGSY have not been followed.

Moreover the road construction work is poor.

Moreover the PMGSY road constructed from Sahamphung to Chammu village is in a deplorable condition, he added. Taking cognizance of the many shortcomings in the road construction work, Yangmi asked the workers to immediately suspend the ongoing work from Chammu to Kachouphung and the suspension will remain in force till a clear understanding is reached with the work agency for new road realignment.

Yangmi further observed that the PMGSY road from Mapu to Chammu needs to be widened and drainage need to be constructed.

He also pointed out the need to construct more culverts along the said route.

The mudslide deposited along Shirui-Mapum road need to be cleared too before the onset of Monsoon.

Member of the State Quality Monitoring cell, A Brajamani who also visited the villages and inspected the road agreed that the work quality between Chammu and Kachouphung is not satisfactory.

Seeing the high slope gradient, he said that the work needs to be rectified and realigned to make the road more motorable.

He added that a detailed report will be submitted to the Chief Engineer for necessary action and rectification.