Newmai inspects cut off IT Road
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, July 16 2020:
Newly inducted Minister, Awangbow Newmai visited the Imphal-Tamenglong road, commonly known as IT Road or Twilang Road today after the area was totally cut off since July 6 due to landslide between Poudel Basti and Thonglang Atongba village.
The Forest and Environment Minister was accompanied by Addl Chief Engineer and other officials of the Public Works Department, apart from SDO T Waichong and Addl SP (Ops), Kangpokpi.
A massive landslide that occurred on July 6 along the Imphal-Tamenglong road had swept away around 40 metre of the road near Thonglang Atongba village and cut off the area resulting in immense hardships for the people.
It had also affected more than 150 metres of the road and its surrounding area causing fissure and earth crack inside some residential houses at Thonglang Atongba.
Imphal-Tamenglong road serve as the only lifeline of more than thirty thousand people in the area who have now been totally cut off.
The Joint Monitoring and Development Committee on IT Road Kangpokpi to Tamei had drawn immediate attention of the authorities concerned and the state Government but it remained unattended till today alleged the committee.
The committee decided to protest the alleged negligence in its joint meeting yesterday with various other civil society organisations leaders of Kangpokpi district but later decided to first meet Awangbow Newmai who they met this morning at Imphal.
On the sideline of the inspection tour, Awangbow Newmai said that it is an annual problem of the people residing along IT Road every monsoon and it's time a permanent solution is established to address the recurring problem.He said, "I am deeply hurt considering the pitiable condition of the people annually every monsoon owing to the bad road which is the only lifeline of the people" .
The Minister assured that technical process to restore the road shall be initiated within 2/3 days and added, "I will try my best to begin the work of an alternative connectivity or restoration of the road swept away by the landslide" .
However, the Minister said that it should be a collective effort and urged the people to cooperate and help the Government to restore the road.
He also appreciated the concern and commitment of the Joint Monitoring and Development Committee on IT Road Kangpokpi to Tamei, SDO T Waichong and Addl.
SP (Ops) Kangpokpi and exhorted them to continue helping the Government restore the road.
Meanwhile, Lutngam Manlun, Chairman Joint Monitoring and Development Committee on IT Road Kangpokpi to Tamei expressed gratitude to the Minister.