Resume workon PMGSY road within one week: SPAVIDCO
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, February 11 2020: Disappointed locals of Santalabari, Parsian and its surrounding villages on Tuesday gave authorities concerned one week time to resume PMGSY works on National Highway-2 to Santalabari road.

Warning the authorities concerned that they will execute the work themselves if the construction work is not resumed within a week, many villagers led by Laxmi Khatiwoda, chairman Santalabari Parsain Area Village Development Committee (SPAVIDCO) thronged the road Tuesday afternoon and marked their protest.

Speaking to media persons, Laxmi Khatiwoda said that the about 100-year-old Santalabari - Parsian road has never seen any development ever since it was renovated (shingling) in 1976.People of the area have been facing extreme difficulties particularly during monsoon season, Laxmi said.

Laxmi continued that when road construction work was sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana with an estimate cost of Rs 278.29 lakh and maintenance cost of Rs 38.14 lakh, the happiness of the innocent villagers knew no bound.

However, the 'heartless' attitude of the contractors concerned has completely shattered the 'public happiness', Laxmi added.

As per the guidelines of the project, the 7.2 kilometres long road between National Highway-2 and Santalabari was to be commenced from October 27, 2018 and completed by April 26, 2020.The maintenance work is scheduled to begin by April 27, 2020 till April 26, 2025.The contract was given to HVS Construction Materials Pvt Ltd with EE/PIU-II (SPT) RED/MSRRDA, Govt of Manipur as the work executioner.

Laxmi further informed that shingling was done on a section of 1 km from the National Highway recently and since then, there has been no further construction work despite the completion date nearing.

"When Haipi - Phoibung road construction work under the same project could be completed by the contractor concerned on time, why is it that the National Highway to Santalabari road construction is yet to even begin," Laxmi questioned and added that the people of the areas would not remain silent in case the construction work is not completed on time.

The people of Santalabari Parsain area have decided to 'seize' the contract and execute it themselves if the contractor concerned fails to resume the work within a week, Laxmi said cautioning people may take up intense agitation as further course of action.

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