Zeliangrong Bodies condemn Govt inaction
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 19 2012:
The Zeliangrong Students' Union Manipur (ZSUM) and Zeliangrong Students' Union, Tamenglong District (ZSUTD) drew the attention of the Governor Gurbachand Jagat on the lack of progress with regard to contruction of Bailey bridge over the Barak river between Dikiuram and Katang villages.
The construction under the NEC funding, that started around 2006-2007 still remains neglected.
Following a meeting with Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, the concerned department and minister, and representatives of ZSUM, in 2007 it was resolved that the construction would be completed that year itself but it never happened, said a joint statement.
Demanding action against the contractors, engineers and others involved in the construction, the statement conveyed that an inspection of the bridge in 2011 presented a sorry state of affairs but on approaching the then Works Minister K Ranjit he succumbed to the influence of the "corrupt engineers" insted of investigating the issue.
Many lives have been lost since the villagers have no other option but to use traditional mode of crossing the river like bamboo rafts even during monsoon, said ZSUM.
On the otherhand, ZSUM expressed its dismay over the minuscle number of health care centres in Tamenglong district.
The state of roads in the region also remains in miserable condition, with the union dubbing it as the "worst road communication", thus making most of the villages inaccesible.
It appealed to the Governor to look into the matter as well.
Forewarning the Government, in case of negligence, ZSUM conveyed that if no action is taken up regarding the issue within 15 days, the union would be forced to take up actions.
Their undertakings would include indefinite bandh and also economic blockade on NH 37 among others.
Citing their appreciation for the Government of Nagaland, ZSUM claimed that the Nagaland Government is far more sympathetic towards the condition of people in remote areas.