Ukhrul-Imphal highway likely to be completed before Shirui Lily Fest : NHIDCL
MLA comes down hard on 'errant' land owners
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik

Ukhrul, January 25 2023: The 2 lane Highway expansion work on the Yaingangpokpi to Finch Corner 30 kilometres stretch is likely to be completed before the Shirui Lily Festival-2023, said the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) when a team of MLAs and Government officials visited the site today.

Ukhrul MLA Ram Muivah, Phungyar MLA Leishiyo Keishing, Ukhrul DC Krishna Kumar, SDO Maibam Suranjoy, Additional SP Samir and several Government officials took stock of the work on the stretch.

During the inspection, the team interacted with land owners of Shangkai, Mongkot Chepu, Litan Sirakhong, TM Kasom, Shokvao and Ramva village, headmen, chiefs and heard their grievances.

Some of the issues were settled on the spot in the presence of village headmen, chiefs and land owners.

Ukhrul-Imphal highway likely to be completed before Shirui Lily Fest : NHIDCL

MLA Leishiyo Keishing came down hard on land owners, who were allegedly hindering the construction works even after receiving compensation.

He instructed the Deputy Commissioner and the police to lodge FIRs and arrest any individual found hindering and disturbing the work on the stretch.

If necessary, security forces may be deployed at the construction site, he added.

As some land owners raised their grievances concerning payment of compensation, the MLA advised them to submit their complaints to the Deputy Commissioner to resolve them.

He also informed the land owners that an arbitrator has been appointed for settlement of their problems.

The NHIDCL officials, on the other hand, informed the visiting MLAs that they have all the resources for construction, but the issue of land dispute is a problem for them and is delaying the work.

They said the NHIDCL is committed to completing expansion work by the end of April provided all land issues are resolved.

John Shelly, General Manager of NHIDCL, Ukhrul assured that work will be done on a war footing for timely completion.

The MLAs instructed contractors to start the construction work with immediate effect as most of the major issues have been sorted amicably.

They further urged the villagers to co-operate and support them in completing the work in a time bound manner.

On the other hand, the sub-contractors who were present at the site also complained that they have not been paid by the contractor since the last 2 years.

On this, the Executive Director of NHIDCL DS Chaudhuri clarified that they had no knowledge of the sub-letting of the work and said it is against the guidelines of the NHIDCL to sublet without prior approval.

He advised the sub-contractors to file FIR against the contractors.

The MLAs' team also inspected a hot mixer plant and an EPC Lab established at TM Kasom village.