Union Minister inspects 'deplorable' NH-37
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Daniel Kamei

Tamenglong, July 21 2013: Union Minister of State for Defence and Youth Jitendra Singh, who is also in charge of Youth Affairs and Sports, today inspected Imphal-Jiribam Road stretch of National Highway-37 by travelling on road from Nungba to Barak to get a firsthand account of the deplorable condition of the road, considered to be the second lifeline of Manipur but left neglected for more than 20 years now despite public demand for developing it as an all weather road.

With the Ministerial team, who travelled in 4-gear Tata Saferi vehicles, taking more than 3 hours in covering a distance of 19 kms from Nungba to Barak to and fro, all the other scheduled programmes of the Union Minister's visit to Manipur had to be cancelled.

Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam and Works Minister Kh Ratankumar were among other State officials and senior officials of Border Road Organisation (BRO) who accompanied the Union Minister during the inspection.

The Union Minister arrived at Imphal Airport around 10:30 am and after taking rest he along with the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam landed at Nungba HQs by chopper at around 11:50 am.

Union Min inspects 'deplorable' NH-37

As the chopper could not accommodated more people, Works Minister Dr K Ratankumar, Principal Secretary (Works), Chief Engineer of PWD and other officials concerned could not accompany the visiting Union Minister during the inspection.

While arriving at the helipad of Nungba HQs, the visiting Ministerial team was welcomed by Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong, SP, top officials of Army, BRTF and other local leaders.

From there, the Ministerial team went for inspection straight away with the Tata Safari in which Union Minister of State for Defence Jitendra Singh was travelling in the front while those of the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister following behind.

An official, who was part of the Ministerial inspection team, disclosed to Hueiyen Lanpao that travelling along the road which does not have the look of a road any more was quite a frightful experience for all.

The condition of the road is so bad that the vehicle in which Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh was travelling arrived at Barak a good 15 minutes after that of the Union Minister.

During the inspection, which covered Barak and Makru bridges, the Union Minister saw with his own eyes the existing condition of the bridges where ordinary binding wires are being used in place of the missing clamps.

After the inspection, the Union Minister directed officials of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to sanction the work of Barak and Makru Bridges on priority.

Just before leaving for inspection sites, Zeliangrong civil societies of Tamenglong submitted a number of memorandums to the Ministerial team.

One joint memorandum signed by Thomas Kamei, Chairman of ZB (M); David Kamei, Joint Secretary of ZYF (AMN); Kajanbou Pamei, Chairman of ZSUM; KB Aduan, Convener of ZPC and Guiliangliu Panmei of ZPB (M) and submitted to the Union Minister of State for Defence pressed for immediate commencement of work on Tamenglong- Khongsang road.

The memorandum also demanded construction of Pucca bridges over Irang, Barak and Makru rivers along National Highway 37 (Imphal-Jiribam Road) .

Furthermore, the memorandum demanded to withdraw oil exploration process in the Zeliangrong land, to expedite Indo-Naga talks, to resume political dialogue on alternative arrangement demand of UNC and for immediate withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Power Act, AFSPA from Manipur.

In another joint memorandum submitted to the Ministerial team, ZU (AMN); VACC Tamenglong; Zeliangrong Women Union and All Tribes Association, Tamenglong demanded for issuance of needful instruction to BRO/BRTF for immediate renovation of Tamenglong- Khongsang road.

The Joint Forum for Transport Welfare Committee, Tamenglong also submitted an ultimatum to the Ministerial team demanding immediate renovation work along Tamenglong- Khongsang road on or before 10th August 2013 and warned that Forum may be compelled to launch agitation along with civil societies from the mid- night of 10th August 2013 in case the demand is not met.

It also made it clear that the state government should be held responsible for any eventuality in this regard and appealed to all the people of Tamenglong district to give full cooperation in the event of launching the agitation.

The Ministerial team was supposed to interact with the civil societies but the time was running out, they had to cancel the programme and returned to Imphal at around 4.30 pm.

The Union Minister left the state capital by a flight at around 5:10 pm.

Due to the tight schedule, two programmes of the Union Minister at Imphal were also cancelled.

It was planned to have another interaction between the visiting Union Minister and the Youth Congress at Congress Bhavan here.

The Union Minister was also supposed to visit Khuman Lampak stadium.