NEC ceases fund grant to faulty Tamenglong road
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 14 2008: Strongly reacting to the failure of the State Works Department to comply with its directive for an enquiry to find out those involved in following a faulty alignment in making the Tamenglong-Tousem-Haflong road, the North Eastern Council (NEC) has ceased fund grant for development of the same road.

On the other hand, BRO has turned down the offer to take up development work of the road.

A highly reliable source informed The Sangai Express that the Works Department entrusted development work of th 81.95 kms long Tamenglong-Tousem-Haflong road to BRO in 1997.

With tansport infrastructure out of shape, people carry heavy loads on their heads in Tamenglong

Following the arrangement, BRO conducted a detail survey for making the road.

Saying that the alignment of the road made earlier was faulty, the BRO submitted a proposal to the NEC to cut the road anew and re-align it and for this they demanded Rs 24 crores.

On receiving the report from BRO, the NEC directed the Works Department to conduct an enquiry and fix responsibilities on the officials responsible for the faulty road alignment.

But the Works Department has been staying away from conducting any such enquiry till date.

Subsequent upon the Department's reluctance to conduct enquiry, the NEC has ceased fund grant for development of the road, conveyed the source.

In 2003-04, the NEC sanctioned Rs two crores for development of road in Manipur.

Considering the highly deplorable condition of Tamenglong-Tousem-Haflong road, the State Government asked the BRO to take over development work of the road but BRO turned down the offer.

Ultimately, development work of the road fell on Works Department.

BRO maintained that they could not work on the road made along faulty alignment.

Meanwhile, Principal Secretary, (Home and Planning) DS Poonia and Tamenglong DC Devesh Deval inspected certain portions of the road yesterday.

The Principal Secretary also inspected the development work of the 39 kms long road from Khongshang to Tamenglong.

The BRO is working on the road at the cost of Rs 12.99 crores funded by the NEC.

BRO officials supervising the ongoing work reportedly said that the road development work will be completed by March next year.

At Tamenglong district headquarters where a mini-Secretariat building is being constructed at the cost of Rs 35 crores from Special Plan Assistance, the Principal Secretary was informed that the construction work will be completed within the next two years.

At his next stop, DS Poonia visited the site earmarked for construction of 50 bedded Tamenglong district hospital.

He also made an inspection of the existing condition of Tamenglong district hospital.

He also inaugurated a garage of the NRHM mobile medical unit there.

The inspection tour of the Principal Secretary also covered the police station building being constructed at Noney, Tamenglong police station, SP office and construction work of battalion complex for 5 MR at Khongjarol.

Roof of the Tamenglong police station built by Manipur Police Housing Corporation and inaugurated by Chief Minister O Ibobi on April 13, 2005 was found leaking.

The roof was found covered by tin after erecting some pillars.

Police personnel posted there also highlighted various deficiencies and requirements of the police station to the Principal Secretary.

At Khongjarol, officers and jawans of 5 MR appealed to the Principal Secretary to develop roads inside their battalion complex.

He also visited the Dailong Hydel Power Project of 1 KW capacity for re-starting construction work.