Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, September 09, 2010::
Government failure to maintain a good road communication was exposed today when the residents along the Mayai Lambi road staged a simultaneous protest at seven places along the stretch of the State Highway no.1. Protestors, referring to works minister K Ranjit, flayed that governance is reduced to delivering speeches in the public places with taking up actual physical works.
Instead of talks people are demanding the government to translate into works what it is planning.
They have set a deadline for September 13 to start improvement works.
Otherwise, they would block the road on September 14 from 5 am to 5 pm.
They have also warned that if the government remains silent they will boycott the government and MLAs of assembly constituencies, Langthabal, Wangoi, Mayang Imphal, Naoriya Pakhanglakpa and Wabagai, through which Mayai Lambi passes.
S Rajen, member of the Mayai Lambi People's Development Committee (MLPDC) came down heavily on the Works minister, R Ranjit who had said that the demand for repairing and improvement of the road was backed by vested interests and demanded to provide evidence of any wrong doing to the MLPDC.
S.Rajen said "We feel wondered the minister has made such a remark,".
Secretary of Senior Citizen Forum, Mayang Imphal Ch Naolo said that linking the demand of the committee for improvement of the road in the interest of the people with politics is an unfortunate thing and it was not expected to be aired by a minister.
He also said that the announcement of the minister of converting of the Mayai Lambi into into a multi lane road a is only a ruse because government has only sent a proposal for funding the improvement works of Mayai Lambi to the Union ministry of Development of North East Region (DoNER).
The sit-in protests were staged by residents along Mayai Lambi under the aegis of the Mayai Lambi People's Development Committee (MLPDC) alleging that government's long neglect has reduced the state highway to a deplorable state.
Members of Langthabal Meira Paibi Lup staged a sit-in protest at Langthabal Lup Awang Leikai, Apunba Meira Paibi Lup at Hiyangthang Bazar, MLPDC at Wangoi Bazar, Top Siphai, Yumnam Huidrom, Thiyam Leishangthem, Thongkhong Luxmi Bazar, and Mayai Lambi Sports Academy, at Mayang Imphal Bazar by members of the Senior Citizens Forum and Brave Boys' Association, Uchiwa Leirak Achouba and at Sekmaijin by the womenfolk of the area.