Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 26:
Representatives of ImphalTamenglong Road (IT Road) Development Committee accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner of Senapati district Dr Prem Singh assessed the progress of road development currently underway on this route.
The DC is also the co-chairman of the Committee's Monitoring Cell.
The 70 kilometre (approx.) IT Road connects Kangpokpi and Tamei of Tamenglong district and the construction work taken up under the State PWD is being entrusted to eight different contractors.
According to the Committee's secretary Seikhokai Kipgen and chairman Wilubou the road construction/development activities is being carried out under Special Plan Assistance of the Central Government.
During the spot assessment programme conducted yesterday and today it came to light that from Kangpokpi upto Chalva village" about 19 kilometre of the total road length" is the most neglected section till date, as only construction material like stone-chips for the BMW work had been piled on the road sides.
Work in the remaining section of the route extending from Chalva to Tamei is in a slightly better shape as about 80 percent of the BMW works have been completed.
The road construction/development work is informed to have started from March this year.
Even though the work for the said route had been sanctioned by the Centre and had provided Rs 10 crore for the purpose, the State Government is yet to release a single paisa, said the secretary and chairman while adding that respective contractors are using their own resources to begin the work.
Expressing apprehension of the work unlikely to be completed within November this year as was agreed with the Government, the Committee representatives urged the State authorities to do the needful including release of earmarked fund so as to enable speedy progress of work.
Appreciating positive response to the Committee's appeal for nonintervention from underground elements to the road development work, they also urged all concerned to facilitate smooth progress of the work.
Interacting with some media-persons who took part in the inspection tour, the Senapati DC informed that report of the work progress assessment programme would be placed before the Government in a day or two.
Assuring that he would personally urge the Government for all necessary measures to ensure the ongoing work is completed within the agreed deadline, Dr Prem also opined that it could be completed before the stipulated time frame.
On the other hand, Seikhokai and Wilubou desired that drainage construction be included in the road work programme as absence of drainage system along the hilly route would shorten longevity of the vital road.