Focus on highway diversion upsets Raina
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 30 2011: Instead of developing the National Highway 39 (Imphal-Dimapur Road), which is the main lifeline of the people, with a sense of dedication and urgency, the Department concerned has come up with the idea of highway diversion, MLA of Maram Assembly Constituency K Raina lamented.

Talking to mediapersons at his Babupara residence here today, MLA Raina pointed out that a larger portion of the National Highway 39 (Imphal Dimapur Road) falls within Maram Assembly Constituency and the people of the Constituency have always extended their support to the Department in development of the highway considering the fact it is main lifeline of the people.

The amount for hiring local trucks and diesel used from the oil pumps have not been paid till date.

But the people of Maram have not said anything because they just wish to see some improvement of the road.

Yet, the Department has been repeatedly making appeal for co-operation from the people.

It is confusing, what kind of co-operation the Department is asking for, Raina pondered.

The MLA said to ensure that condition of the National Highway does not come to its present state, he personally had taken up the matter with the Principal Secretary on numerous occasions.

However, as no action has been taken, the condition of the National Highway has gone from bad to worse.

The MLA alleged that till date the Department concerned has not shown any keen interest in taking up developmental works of the National Highway.

The most glaring example of such lackadaisical attitude is the fact that if some Ministers were to travel, then some machines and workers were deployed like some sort of advertisement, he asserted, adding that it is on account of such conduct of the Department concerned that no work progress could be seen in the development of the 106 kms road stretch from Mao to Koirengei, even after one year.

If the apathy of the Government and its related Department is writ large over the development of such an important National Highway, people should think over what would be nature of the so-called developmental works taken up by the Government in remote and far flung areas of the State, MLA K Raina observed.

For lack of development and progress, the State Government would always put the blame on law and order situation.

This is very unfortunate, the MLA added.

In response to a question, MLA Raina clarified that he had no knowledge about the Hot Mixed Plant being set up at Maram.

But Works Minister K Ranjit did once contact him over the phone informing about the completion of the plant.

It is a development deserving appreciation.

But the claim that the Hot Mixed Plant had been set up with his consent is totally baseless, he maintained.

Comment