Paddy planted on road demanding reconstruction
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 22 2020: Demanding reconstruction of an inter-village road along the bank of Imphal River at Lilong, local people staged a protest demonstration by planting paddy on a section of the road today to draw attention of the Government towards the highly pathetic condition of the road.

Men and women came out of their houses and planted paddy saplings on the middle of the muddy and slippery inter-village road at Lilong Haoreibi Makha Leikai area.

Paddy planted on road demanding reconstruction

"The road was constructed and blacktopped under PMGSY (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana) a few years back.

However, the blacktop was removed last year and the road was levelled with earth.

Since then, the road deteriorated and now due to rains, it is muddy and slippery causing immense hardship to the locals," one local said adding they are demonstrating their frustration at the authorities concerned and the Government by planting the paddies.

Asking the authorities concerned what was the project that required removal of the blacktop, the locals lamented that the dilapidated condition of the road has caused immense hardships and motor vehicle accidents.

Due to negligence and lack of maintenance work, the road and the river bank at many places are broken.

The locals have apprehension that there will be flooding and waterlogging if the water level of Imphal River rises and overflows, said the locals.

"The demonstration (planting paddy) today was taken up as we are fed up with the negligence of the authorities concerned.

The Government should immediately take up necessary actions to address the plight of the people," one of the locals said.

The Government should act before intense modes of agitation are launched, the locals added.