ICHAM highlights tardiness of BRO
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 10 2012:
Along with submitting a memorandum to the visiting Union Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju, Information Centre for Hill Areas, Manipur (ICHAM) has apprised the Minister of the tardy progress of work on NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam) executed by the BRO.
Addressing a press meet this evening at the Manipur Press Club, ICHAM President, N Rajendra (Boy) said ICHAM has urged the Union Minister not to rely on the alleged fallacious report of the BRO but to collect genuine report of the condition of NH-37 from the public.
Urging the Minister not to return contented with the impressive show of the BRO, which is engaging its men in action just after getting news of the Minister's visit, ICHAM President reminded that the people would be the victims of bad road condition along NH-37 .
In its memorandum to the Union Minister of State for Defence, Palam Raju which was submitted through MLA I Hemochandra, ICHAM highlighted to the Union Minister that no improvement of the road has been seen even though the BRO has been engaged in the upgradation work of the highway since several years back.
Recalling the visit of ICHAM functionaries along with media persons back in September 2011, the memo pointed out that the stretch between Imphal and Nungba, then upto Awangkhul and the stretch between Jiribam and Makru bridge are manageably okay as of now though a lot needs to be done, the rest of the highway is in a very poor shape.
During the visit, it was found that only 17 labourers were laying stones on a few metre patch of the muddy road near Kambiron.
Any scene of earnest work on part of the BRO anywhere on the highway was conspicuous by its absence, it highlighted.
The memo contrasted the findings of the team with the information furnished to the State Chief Minister by Union Minister (Defence) AK Antony on July 27, 2011 .
The Union Minister had stated that the BRO is directed to complete the work by December 2013.Further, 7 officers, 169 staff and 1280 casual paid labourers were deployed on NH-37 apart from 64 vehicles/equipment and 425 casual paid labourers would be exclusively deployed as monsoon contingencies.
Highlighting the about the alleged gross mislead by the BRO authority on the upgradation of the highway to cover up its sluggish manner, ICHAM urged for the formation of a committee comprising officials of the concerned Ministries and the State Government to monitor the progress of the upgradation work of the highway being executed by the BRO on a monthly basis.
It asserted that the BRO alone can never complete the task within the prescribed time schedule of December 2013 .
It also urged for the deployment of State force to give protection along the highway in order to ensure smooth flow of goods carrying traffics and safety of drivers and passengers.