Redefining Yaoshang
Source: Hueiyen-iStyle / Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 01, 2013: Over the last one decade or two, celebration of Yaoshang festival has undergone a sea change from that of an extravagant jamboree to sporting activities for five days, thanks to the efforts of various local clubs.

On the other hand, questions have been raised over the rationale behind media houses in Manipur remaining shut down for five days on account of Yaoshang, thus, depriving the people access to information.

So, how well media houses and their staff in Manipur can utilize the holiday for five days? Even if we cannot say anything about other media houses, we, at Hueiyen Lanpao, have been making a conscious attempt over the years to utilize the Yaoshang holiday in the most fruitfully manner while keeping in mind our social responsibility, which has become a tradition today.

In continuation of this tradition, a team of Hueiyen Lanpao conducted a tour of interior parts of Jiribam Sub-division of Imphal East district to take firsthand account of the developmental activities (or lack of developmental activities) there as well as to interact with the people to understand their trials and tribulations of life.

Based on these experiences, we would be carrying a series of news stories in the next few days.

To start off, we would like to begin with the existing infrastructures for connectivity between Imphal and Jiribam, which is at a distance of 222 kms apart.

Much have been written and talked about the deplorable condition of the road from Imphal to Jiribam, and we have nothing new to add to it - it is still a hellish experience to drive along Imphal-Jiribam road.

But one discernable change that was witnessed during the tour this time was the marked improvement in the condition of road stretches at various points.

From Imphal to Noney, the road is so good and broad that it was sheer pleasure to drive along.

In between Noney and Awangkhul, there are stretches that need to pay serious attention for improvement.

But by the time, we reach Irang and Khongshang, the road is so bad that one has to skip a heartbeat to two, when the vehicles got stuck in the mud.

Except for few stretches at Rengpang area, especially where the power house is located, there is nothing to write home about the condition of the road passing through Nungba, Kambiron and Barak valley, Kaimai, Nung Dolan and Makru.

Despite their importance for transportation of goods when National Highway 2 (Imphal-Dimapur) Road remains cut off due to one reason or the other, there has been no improvement in the condition of the bridges over Irang river at Irang and Barak river at Barak river.

The bridges over Makru River in Makru village as well as the one at Nung Dolan area are also no different.

At Nung Dolan area, the road is still at its worst condition and BRTF labourers were seen engaging in road cutting work.

However, from Keiphundai upto Jiribam, the marked improvement in the road condition is something one would find hard to believe it to be a part of the much despise Imphal-Jiribam road.

Along this road stretch too, there are hectic activities for construction of new bridges to replace the existing rickety ones.

As in the pattern of road connectivity, one can also witnessed great progress in the ongoing work of railway line construction from Jiribam side.

But all is quiet on the Tupul front, despite the proclamation of the State Government that Imphal-Jiribam railway line via Tupul is being targeted to be completed by 2016. It may be recalled here that after the foundation stone of the railway project was laid in November, 2004 by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh while Lalu Prasad was the Railway Minister, it was declared a National Project by the Government of India in 2005 along with entrusting task of executing the project to Northern Frontiers Railway.

The first successful trial engine run of the project over a distance of 12 kms from Jiribam to Dholakal was conducted in March 2012.

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