STSU demands completion of two PMGSY roads by Christmas
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 06 2023:
The Southern Tangkhul Students' Union has challenged the Manipur Government and its RD & PR Department to show at least one road in Phungyar AC under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) whose construction has been completed.
Addressing the media at Manipur Press Club today, Yarchuiso Kasung, president, Southern Tangkhul Students' Union said that the recent clarification issued by the Chief Engineer of RD & PR Department regarding the construction of Kangkum to Wangli and Yaingangpokpi to Chadong roads under PMGSY has allegedly incriminated him in misappropriation of funds along with the contractors and EE.
Recalling the reasons cited by the Chief Engineer for the delay in completion of Kangkum to Wangli road, such as the pandemic, the ongoing crisis and damage done to the road due to the movement of heavy vehicles, he questioned if the construction had not yet been completed, why did the signboard claim otherwise.
In addition, he alleged that only a small section of the road had been blacktopped to withdraw the bill sanctioned for the road.
But hard soil was used instead of gravel in the construction, hence the road has crumbled, he claimed.
With regard to the Yaingangpokpi to Chadong road, he informed that not a single culvert had been installed and blacktopping had not yet been done.
In his clarification, the Chief Engineer had assured to complete construction of the two roads by 2024.However, it has already been reported that the Sikibung to Loufong road (part of Kangkum to Wangli road) was completed in 2020, he claimed.
The maintenance period is from 2022 to 2025, but as the end of the maintenance period draws closer, drains have not yet been constructed and gravel has not even been laid on the road, he pointed out.
Citing another instance, he informed that construction of the 15.25 km Tangkhul Hundung Lamkhai to Nongdan Tangkhul road was supposedly completed in 2021, with 2021 to 2026 being the maintenance period.
He claimed that only a stretch of 5 km was blacktopped to enable withdrawal of the bill.
However, drains are yet to be constructed, he alleged.
Yarchuiso Kasung conveyed that there are many such roads under PMGSY whose constructions have been delayed and that he will present them to the public one by one.
Thus, he appealed to the RD & PR Minister to take up stringent action against those involved in unlawful activities in this connection.
He further appealed to complete construction of the two aforementioned roads by Christmas.
Failing this, the Union will take up stringent steps, he cautioned.