Neglected City Landmarks
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: June 22, 2013 -

On June 18 edition of this daily, we carried two special reports, one, on the giant clock affixed atop the Gandhi Memorial (GM) Hall, which has remained defunct from lack of regular maintenance by the authority concerned for the last many years, and the other, on the outdated narrow bridge commonly known as Sanjenthong over Imphal river in the heart of Imphal, which has become a cause for daily traffic snarl instead of facilitating vehicular movement.

And, as expected, the response of the readers on the two reports has been overwhelming.

The giant clock of GM Hall and the Sanjenthong bridge may not be ‘ancient’ enough to be expected for protection under the existing legislations like the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 or our own Manipur Ancient and Historical Monuments Archeological Sites and Remains Act, 1976.

Still then, they are two important landmarks of Imphal whose historical importance as well would not be any lesser to other ‘structure, erection or monument’ to be taken care of.

But what is most galling is the consistent failure of the authorities concerned of the State Government to look after their upkeep, thus, reducing their importance to some structures that would, in fact, bring disgrace to whole State in front of visitors from other parts of the globe.

Why is the Imphal Municipal Council (IMC), which is responsible for maintenance of the tower clock atop GM Hall, not repairing it even after two years of giving the assurance on doing the needful?

Or, does rejection of the fund requested for reconstruction of Sanjenthong means people would continue to face the harrowing experience of crossing the narrow bridge every day?

When it comes to negligence of the State Government towards important landmarks of the State, more particularly, those in the capital city Imphal, the list does not end with the giant clock of GM Hall and the outdated Sanjenthong Bridge.

If one looks around, the same apathetic attitude of the State Government and its departments concerned could be seen everywhere, whether it is the statue of King Bhagyachandra taming a wild elephant installed at the heart of historic Khwairamband Keithel or the humped bridge (Thong Nambonbi) constructed by the British over Nambul river flowing nearby in 1854.

From prolonged negligence, these two historical structures that used to serve as prominent landmarks of Imphal at one time today present a pitiable sight to beholders.

Apart from the fact that cracks and fissures have developed on the statue of King Bhagyachandra and the crouching wild elephant at different parts, the raised platform on which the statue stands as a testimony to the glorious past of Manipur, has been converted into a most convenient place for everyone wanting to paste film posters and advertisement pamphlets of different shapes, sizes and colour.

On the other hand, Thong Nambonbi has altogether redefined the meaning of ‘protection’ under the Manipur Ancient and Historical Monuments Archeological Sites and Remains Act, 1976 by the State Government with no sign of any protection.

It’s time for the Government and its related departments to realize that no amount of money put in for modernization of Imphal would be able to compensate for the loss of whatever little structures of historical importance left from willful negligence.