Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 30 2009:
After conducting a direct assessment of NH-39 till Mao Works Minister K Ranjit has assured that repairing work of the dilapidated portion of the highway would be initiated within a week to make them passable.
The State Cabinet decided to hand over maintenance/repairing and development work of NH-39, NH-53 and NH-150 to BRO in August 2006. However, the Cabinet decision regarding NH-39 can be effected only after complete utilisation of the amounts sanctioned by the Government of India in 2004, 2005 and 2006 for d velopment of the highway.
With the BRO making lit tle progress on NH-39, the State Government lobbied with the Union Government to re-assume responsibility of the highway.
In the process, some time was lost during which no repairing work was undertaken along NH-39, said Works Minister K Ranjit.
Although the three National Highways were handed over to BRO earlier, the Government of India has acceded to the State Government's proposal to take them under the State's care, again.
Saying that proposals along with necessary documents like DPRs etc would be submitted soon, Ranjit claimed that repairing work of the highway can be completed within the working season starting from December.
Disclosing that the State Government has no fund to repair the highway at present, he said that the Government has entered into certain arrangements with some professional contract dilapidated portions of the highway to a passable level.
Saying that repairing work would begin within a week, the Works Minister appealed to the Senapati District Stu dents' Association as well as transport organisations to call off economic blockade/chakka bandh being imposed or called along NH 39. The Works Minister's inspection tour of NH 39 till Mao was also participated by Transport and Education Minister L Jayantakumar, TD Minister DD Thaisii and officials of Works Department.
The ministerial team also went to Makhan village, Kanglatongbi and inspected the probable site where, a centre of Indira Gandhi Tribal University may be
set up.