IFCD officials get a taste of public wrath
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 22: Officials of the IFC Department who came to pick up two Tipper trucks and an excavator (JCB) being used in connection with the repairing of a breached river embankment at Lilong even before completion of the work today got a taste of public wrath and had to beat a hasty retreat.

According to information received by the press, the breached embankment along the left flank of Imphal river under Lilong Assembly Constituency is being repaired with the help of local MLA Md Hellaluddin Khan since April 12.However, even before completion of the work, officials of the IFC Department led by EE of Thoubal Division today came to the work site near Lilong Haoreibi Chandrakhong along with three teams of Police Commandos in three Gypsies to pick up one JCB and two Tipper trucks.

Seeing that, the people of area came out in protest and stopped the IFC officials and the Police Commandos from taking away the machineries.

The spot from where the IFCD officials beat a hasty retreat

Caught in a tricky situation, the officials had to beat a hasty retreat along with the Police Commandos they had come along with.

Subsequently, repairing work of the breached embankment continued without any interruption.

Before leaving, the officials reportedly told the agitated local residents that they had come to pick up the machineries at the directives of the IFC Minister.

Later during the day, a public meeting was held at Lilong Haoreibi Chandrakhong.

The meeting strongly condemned the conduct of the IFC Department in trying to take away the machineries and resolved not to hand over the same until completion of the work.Talking to mediapersons in this connection, general secretary of Indigenous Pangal Cultural Organisation DP Rahim pointed out that Lilong area is a place surrounded by river from three sides.

On August 13, 2002, embankment of Imphal river was breached at three different places of Lilong area causing lot of suffering to the people who are yet to come out of it.

The breached embankment of the river of which the repairing work is being taken up now dated back to 2002 .

Demanding to know whether the IFC Dept has no other machineries at its disposal besides the ones being used at Lilong, Rahim said that the people of Lilong area would like the Minister himself to come and pick up the machineries, if at all, the machineries are required by the Dept.

The public meeting held under the aegis of Lilong Kendra Developmental and Political Forum has also resolved to launch intense agitation if the repairing work of the breached embankment is not completed within 15 days from today.

Today's meeting has also decided to exert pressure on the PWDt for taking up necessary measures for black topping of the Ngangou Road connecting NH-39 and Samurou at the earliest possible.