BAVA airs woes of Ukhrul border villagers
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Pamreiso Shimray
Ukhrul, February 04 2014:
Border Area Villages Association (BAVA) has drawn the attention of the state government to seriously look into the lack of development and difficulties affecting the people of border areas in Ukhrul district.
In a press conference held on Tuesday afternoon, BAVA president Augustine AS expressed concern over the deplorable road condition of National Highway 202 and demanded the relevant authorities to come clear on the issue.
"NH 202 has not been repaired for over three years�as a result the road has been reduced to deplorable condition and unfit to be termed as national highway," he said.
BAVA stated that the BRO has been engaging merely in covering potholes in certain stretches of the road and has never undertaken any major repairing work.
Taking strong exception to the way the NH has been ignored largely, the body raised fingers of suspicion against the concerned authorities of siphoning off fund allocated for the maintenance works.
"The Ministry of Defence should conduct an investigation into fund management of BRO," Augustine demanded.
BAVA also urged the State Government for official declaration of border haat at Tusom village under Jessami sub-division and immediate functioning of the same at Kongkan Thana under Kamjong sub-division.
Furthermore, it alleged the State Government has remained indifferent to the development of border haat in Ukhrul district despite the initiative taken years ago.
In spite of the bilateral understanding between India and Myanmar to open the fourth Border Liaison Office (BLO) at Nagaland sector between Ukhrul and Somra (Myanmar) in 2012, the proposal has not been materialized till date, BAVA rued.
On the state government's failure to submit utilization certificate (UC) in respect of BADP, the BAVA also raised question against the relevant department for neglecting fund flow meant for border area development.
While quoting an official document issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, BAVA secretary Tuithing Zingkhai decried the manner the state government has been treating the development package sanctioned for border areas.
It informed that the State Government has not yet furnished UC to the tune of Rs.483.88 lakh upto the year 2011-12 and Rs.1245.49 lakh for the period 2012-13 .
BAVA asserted that this delay has affected the fund flow from the central ministry, and appealed to the state authorities to do the needful.