MNDF inspects Imphal-Jiribam highway
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 12 2016: A team of the Manipur National Democratic Front (MNDF) inspected the existing condition of Imphal-Jiribam highway.

The team consisting of MNDF president Ch Priyokumar, senior vice-president Bijoy Koijam, vice-president K Khogen, spokesman Lien Gangte, treasurer Th Chalamba and other functionaries of the party went to Jiribam on Monday.

They found the highway in a very deplorable condition for a length of around 6 Kms near Makru bridge and they did not see any sign of it being repaired.

On seeing that the BRO was not taking care of the dilapidated sections, Bijoy Koijam remarked that it would be far better if the people of Manipur take the onus of constructing the high-way with money contributed from their own pockets.

After inspecting the highway, the MNDF team held an interaction programme with media persons and social leaders at the Jiribam guest house yesterday.

Ch Priyokumar said that there is no enthusiasm on the part of BRO to complete the highway construction even though the highway was included in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 100 days programme.

MNDF would take up the issue of Imphal-Jiribam highway as a major issue of the State, he said Bijoy Koijam lamented that there may not be any highway across the world which are as pathetic as the dilapidated sections of Imphal-Jiribam highway.

He also expressed keen desire for Chief Minister to travel to Jiribam by road so that he can make a direct assessment of the highway's condition in case he is going to Jiribam.

Saying that there are reports of BRO handing over the responsibility of repairing the dilapidated sections to a local contractor under sub-contract system, Bijoy Koijam called upon all concerned to do away with the sub-contract system.

He suggested that the State PWD should be roped in to repair the dilapidated sections.

Jiribam, being the western gate of Manipur, there is a growing need to make Imphal-Jiribam highway a standard highway.

It is not correct to keep Jiribam as a sub-division of Imphal East district as it is around 220 Kms away from the district headquarters, he added.

Jiribam is lacking in many aspects including health sector, education sector, banking sector and transport infrastructure, Bijoy said.

He said that MNDF supports the demand for upgradation of Jiribam as a full fledged district.

Jiribam based social worker Jalaludin, while highlighting lack of banking facilities in the sub-division, said that they even faced inconveniences in drawing MGNREGS wages.

Roads of Barak Circle and Jiri Circle have deteriorated to the extreme.

There is no facility for registering police cases with regard to death of people in road accidents as there are no infrastructure for post mortem.

Almost 90 per cent of the people of Jiribam are poor and health care facilities provided by the Government are not accessible to them.

Usually, people have been going to Silchar for medical diagnosis and treatment, Jalaludin said.

International Human Rights Protection, North East secretary Paul New said that the Government was approached repeatedly to repair the dilapidated roads of Tousem subdivision but to no avail so far.

Recently, Rs 10 lakh was sanctioned for repairing roads but no roads were repaired.

Another Rs 20 lakh was sanctioned in 2015 and the amount was also swindled by a few influential people.

Paul New said that they would be compelled to launch different modes of agitation if the dilapidated roads are not repaired at the earliest.

Lien Gangte said that they would exert strong pressure on the Government to look into different requirements of Barak Circle and Jiri Circle.

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