BRTF responds to allegation against them
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 19, 2012:
Stating that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), a department under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway, is fully committed in the construction/development of vast network of roads through departmental resources, the headquarters, 25 Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) has clarified that its officers and personnel, who are drawn from all over the country have no intention of marrying local girls and settling down in Manipur.
The BRTF, in a statement, was responding to the allegation levelled against it by the proscribed RPF/PLA in the wake of a bomb being planted at the residence of Commander, 25 BRTF.
The BRO has been engaged in construction/development works of roads and bridges in the entire North East region for the last 50 years, the BRTF statement signed by its Senior Administrative Officer said.
In Manipur, most of the hill roads under construction are with 25 BRTF of BRO.
Hence, most of its personnel are deployed in remote hill districts of Manipur for the socio-economic development of the area.
Pointing out that the 'network' of roads is being maintained by BRO/25 BRTF during natural calamities like earthquake, landslides and floods, the BRTF statement said that the BRO is engaging most of local labourers and thus giving the locals employment.
"It is the reasons that entire population of Manipur especially the inhabitants of (the) hill districts are in favour of BRO and love to associate with BRO," asserted the statement.
Referring to the bomb attack on the BRTF, the statement stated that there has been no such incident in the last 40 years where BRO personnel have been targeted by any one.
As regard the inability of the BRTF to develop NH-37 to standard highway, the statement clarified that the 25 BRTF located in imphal is not looking after the construction/development of the highway from Jiribam to Imphal though it is under the BRO.
It further clarified that another BRTF unit (765 BRTF) stationed at Jiribam has been engaged by the BRO for the construction of NH-37. The statement clarified that 25 BRTF, in addition to other roads in Manipur, is looking after the construction of CCpur-Tipaimukh road (NH-150) and Yaingangpokpi-Jessami road (NH-150) only while also adding that all other NHs are with the State Government of Manipur.