BRTF barred from removing construction materials
Source: Chronicle News Service
Senapati, October 07 2021:
Irate villagers prohibited BRTF officials from removing construction materials, machine tools and labourers from the incomplete Senapati-Phaibung road on October 6.According to sources, BRTF officials tried to forcibly remove construction materials on October 6 morning despite request by the concerned villagers and Senapati-Phaibung Road Development Committee not to remove the materials as the work remains incomplete or before reaching an understanding on both sides.
As BRFT officials did not listen to the request of the public, irate villagers stopped vehicles carrying construction materials including bitumen and others at Ngawar village.
The villagers also informed that it annoyed them as BRTF tried to leave forcefully by using police force by informing the district administration.
However, the villagers conveyed to the district administration about the genuine matter and cautioned against use of security personnel, sources added.
In this regard, Senapati-Phaibung Road Development Committee had written a letter to 25 BRTF commandant (C/O 99 APO) stationed at Lamphel on October 6 and requested the BRTF official not to remove the road construction materials and labourers from the construction site till completing construction of road till Tingsong, Ngamju and Khongdei villages.
The letter also mentioned^ that the road development committee on many occasions had submitted memorandum and representations to authorities concerned for early release of fund on behalf of the road construction agency (BRTF).
The letter stated that chief minister N Biren had assured to the committee of releasing the remaining balance at the earliest date.
Senapati-Phaibung Road Development Committee president N Benjamin Tao and secretary RL Paongi also appealed to authority concerned to understand the situation and pursue together for early release of fund to resume the construction work in the larger interest of the neglected villages.
It may be mentioned that ex-ADC (19-Lakhamai DCC) Benjamin Tao had also written a letter to chief minister N Biren in June 2021 and to works minister Thongam Biswajit in July, 2021 requesting for intervention so as to resolve the construction problem.
The letter pointed out that the Senapati-Phaibung road (128.9km) to CL 9 specification was entrusted to BRO/25 BRTF by DoNER ministry and the project was implemented under the NLCPR scheme with of 90 percent of the fund shared by the central government and 10 percent by the state government and construction started since 2002.Even after 18 years, the work could not be completed due to non-release of fund by the state government (its share).
It further pointed out that Senapati-Phaibung road is remaining for the past 18 years without any repairing other than minor repairing done by few ADC members in collaboration with the villagers.
Senapati-Phaibung road which originates from NH-2 at TNK Senapati village is the only route that connects southern Lepaona villages and Chilivai villages adjoining 18 villages and it is one of the most neglected zones of eastern Senapati district, the border of Senapati-Ukhrul district along the Iril river.