Tamenglong bodies seek PM's intervention
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 03 2013:
Registering its opposition to the proposed handing over of road/highway construction works from BRO to PWD, Govt of Manipur, various bodies including the Land and Properties Owners' Association, NH 37/39 have urged Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to prevail over the matter and let the BRO continues its services.
Referring to the reports which was carried by The Sangai Express on Aug 6 which stated that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Govt of India has subsequently asked the State officials to send representation for taking away the Imphal- Jiribam NH-37 and NH- 150 from BRO alleging that BRO has failed miserably in maintaining and developing the highways in spite of investing huge amount of money various bodies including the ZU Tamenglong Zone, ZWU, ZSU, ZYF, VACC, TAT, CAT, JFTW and LPOA.
Alleging that almost all the state PWD offices in the hills district headquarters are defunct with not even the lowest ranking engineer stationing, the Tamenglong based organisations have stated that the question of maintaining the highways by the State PWD is a pure mockery.
The memo further stated that the service of BRO is appreciable although the pace of maintenance work on the NHs especially NH- 37 (Imphal- Jiribam) is comparatively slow in comparison to the fund invested as perceived by all.
But the reason for slow pace in maintenance and development of the road is due to the fact that the work could not be accelerated on account of frequent disturbances by convoy goods laden trucks plying along the highway, frequent damage of roads & drainage due to construction works of NF- Railway line in the vicinity of the highway, short supply of stones & sand at minimal (affordable Govt) rates due to price rise as the demand becomes high for construction of NF- railway line and for the other purposes, it said.