Unstated point in the 'ongoing work' phrase : Kicking up a dust of confusion
- Sangai Express Editorial :: August 17, 2013 -

Pathetic / Deplorable section of NH-37 connecting Imphal and Jiribam in July 21, 2013 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

Everything to be ready or in tip top shape by 2014.

This is from the Chief Engineer of the Border Roads Organisation, Brigadier Jairam Kumar while referring to the ongoing works along the Imphal-Jiribam stretch of National Highway 37.

The Transporters' and Drivers' Council taking it upon themselves to repair the stretches of highways which have become unfit for vehicular movements.

A story which has appeared at least more than twice this month alone, with pictures carrying the story effectively.

Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar expressing deep dissatisfaction with the works taken up by the BRO along the said stretch.

Not directly pointing a finger of accusation at the State Government but in stating that the pleas of the BRO to keep vehicles off the said highway for at least two days for the repair work to progress smoothly has not been responded to positively, a point has been made obliquely.

So what exactly is happening on this stretch of the highway ? No one knows.

The only thing that has come out in the public domain is that this stretch is still a long way off to fit the tag of a National Highway and of course the subtle and not so subtle charges and counter charges between the BRO on the one hand and the State Government and the TDC on the other side.

This is besides the much publicised report, complete with pictures, of the pathetic state of the highway.

Not exactly the ideal way to deal with a lifeline of a land locked State, which has been cut off from the rest of the world for long periods in the past.

In between, there have been some visits by Central leaders to oversee the ongoing work of this highway.

No one knows what exactly the Delhi mandarins saw during their inspection drives, but what is clear is that nothing has moved at the ground level.

The Imphal-Jiribam stretch remains as it is, making a mockery of the term, 'ongoing work'.

Or is it a case of living up to the unalloyed understanding of the term 'ongoing', which in other words means 'it will keep on continuing' with no end or deadline in sight ?

A sort of two lines running parallel to each other with no meeting points.

This should about sum up the confusion that has been thrown up along this crucial line that connects Manipur with the rest of the country or the world.

Second lifeline syndrome coming out in all its glory. A failure to think out of the box and act accordingly.

As long as the State Government, the BRO and others continue to be caught in the mindset of 'second lifeline' while referring to the Imphal-Jiri stretch of the highway, the impasse will continue.

A thought process, which unfailingly comes to the fore when the Imphal-Dimapur stretch of National Highway-2 is blocked.

It certainly is not a comfortable thought to know that the Government and its agencies have not been able to come to terms with the fact that a land locked State like Manipur cannot afford to classify the routes connecting it to other parts of the country and the world as the first lifeline, second lifeline or third lifeline.

In fact all routes that connect Manipur with the outside world should be lifelines in their own rights. It is this mentality, which to a large extent, is responsible for the pathetic conditions that the Imphal-Jiribam stretch has been condemned to down the decades.

Given the situation, a situation where there are sharks of different kinds, the possibility of purposely cultivating such a mindset cannot be written off. Come a blockade, man made or otherwise on the Imphal-Dimapur line, and there are well run cartels which are ready to step in and laugh all their way to the bank.

The burgeoning black market in fuel and LPG should give a certain degree of credibility to this line of observation.

In short, as long as Manipur continues to be caught in the rut of second and third lifelines, then there will be a corresponding set of people who will milk the situation to their advantage.

This is a fact and not some grand theory plucked from thin air. Clear the confusion on the Imphal-Jiribam stretch of NH-37 first. Stop pulling wool over the eyes of the people with the 'ongoing work' phrase.

The people should wisen up to the unstated point in this phrase.