Imphal, February 12, 2010: The Senapati District Students� Association (SDSA), presently busy with the economic blockade on the National Highway 39, in a memorandum submitted to the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Kamal Nath, seeking immediate intervention in the state government's alleged apathy in improving the condition of NH-39, requested him to hand over the maintenance of the highway to Border Road Organisation (BRO).

The memorandum to the Union minister Kamal Nath was submitted through the Deputy Commissioner of Senapati district.

The SDSA urged the Union Minister to intervene immediately and expedite the process of improving the NH-39 by handing it over to the BRO and initiate necessary action at the earliest possible.

Reiterating that the SDSA had submitted memoranda to the state Chief Minister in July, 2009, to the Governor in December, 2009 and Union Home Minister on December 23, 2009, the memorandum to Kamal Nath lamented that till date the responsible efforts of the SDSA have remained a least bothered subject to the Manipur government.

In the backdrop of poor condition of the highway that hit hard in some parts of Senapati district and with a view to fulfilling the aspirations of the people of the state in general and Senapati in particular to have a developed highway, the SDSA urged the Union Minister to hand over the maintenance work to the BRO.

The memorandum pointed out that the SDSA has been left with no alternative to address the matter but to impose chakka bandh for two days which was followed by indefinite blockade on the highway, which began from midnight of January 30 and still continues.

The memorandum signed by its president, A Pfokrehrii Khrasi stated that the SDSA after a serious and detailed deliberation on the issue of the NH-39's perpetual deplorable condition, held the presidential council meeting on January 20.At the meeting, the council expressed strong resentment over the utter negligent attitude of the state government towards the improvement of the NH-39. Innumerable agreements and MoUs had been signed between the state government and the SDSA after every agitation (bandhs and economic blockades) in reference to the NH-39, the SDSA recalled and mentioned particularly the MoU signed by the two parties on November 24, 2008 at Senapati District headquarters.

Moreover, assurances and commitments were given during the official visit of a Central Team led by Additional Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highway, Vijay Chibbar, on the maiden visit of the Union Home Secretary, GK Pillai to Senapati on August 22, 2009. Not ended with this, the state PWD has on several occasions assured of black topping after the rainy season is over.

But all that turned out to be �heaps of lies and fake promises� as they remained engaged in only mixing mud and stones, a pity repairing, the statement lamented.

On the other hand, following appraisal from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway sanctioned and released Rs 39.25 crore for the improvement works of the highway.

In such situation, the SDSA has been unceasingly persuading the said matter for the past four year from 2007-10 through series of democratic agitations due to repeated failure of the state government to address the demand inspite of countless publication, reminders and ultimatums and MoUs to the state government.

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