Villagers let down by incomplete roads
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 17 2017: Villagers of 10 odd villages located in and around Sajik Tampak under Chakpikarong sub-division, Chandel district have been left heartbroken as a huge amount of funds sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) for developing and constructing village roads have been misappropriated and the authorities concerned have turned a deaf ear to their complaints.

According to a report, development of a 12.21 Kms long stretch of road between Sajik Tampak and Molphei under package number MN0245 of phase VIII of PMGSY was entrusted on a special contractor by the name of VS Vareiyo in 2013 .

A group comprising of village chiefs called PMGSY Phase VIII MN0245 Affected Chiefs Grievances Forum was created after the construction of the road stopped midway.

Villagers let down by incomplete roads

In the meantime, there were reports that Rs 4.80 crore out of the total sanctioned amount had been withdrawn and this compelled the forum to highlight the matter to the authorities concerned through the media.

According to one of the members of the forum, Paogin Haokip, only six Kms of the road had been constructed.

"Only 12 slab culverts were constructed along the road although there should be 20 slab culverts of length 1.5 m each.

Slab culvert measuring two, three and six metres are all missing", he said.

Only two retaining walls out of 12 were completed and only one out of the eight breast wall was constructed.

Only one kilometre stone was erected and the road which should pass through Pumsi area was also diverted in the wrong direction, he added He pointed out that levelling of the road, constructing of far fewer culverts, retaining walls and breast walls were the only works completed and black-topping work was yet to be done.

Paogin Haokip said it was really unfortunate that a large portion of the funds for Phase VIII of PMGSY had been withdrawn despite the incomplete work.

On March 10, 2015, the RD and PR Minister had inspected the road along with senior engineers from Manipur State Rural Roads Development Agency (MSRRDA) .

Initially the villagers were overjoyed but had to complain to the MSRRDA Chief Engineer and Principal Secretary (RD) after the road construction work stopped.

"The forum had written to the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary in May last year about the issue but they have turned a deaf ear to our plight", he said.

Most of the villages are quite remote and the road is the main lifeline for the people, he said adding that it becomes unusable during monsoon seasons.

"Our only hope now is to complain to the National Rural Roads Development Agency and the Ministry concerned", he added.