Imphal, February 25, 2010: "Whether it may be from UG groups or other sections, we would tackle any disturbance caused to development works of national highway", said Naga People's Organisation (NPO) president Dili.

Talking to media persons in the presence of Works Minister K Ranjit at the residence of TD Minister DD Thaisii at Senapati yesterday, Dili remarked that the national highway is a life-line of the State and it is closely related to the life of each and every citizen.

Disturbances to highway development work in the form of abduction of engineers, demand for certain percentage of the estimated amount etc cannot be justified.

National highway is not an avenue for indulging in corruption or extortion, but it is closely linked with existence of the people.

Commenting on Works Minister K Ranjit's efforts to develop NH 39 into a modern highway, Dili hailed Ranjit as a highly laborious man.

He is not an ordinary Minister, the NPO president said.

Inspecting the ongoing highway development work yesterday, Ranjit exuded that repairing work of the highly dilapidated sector from Taphou to Maram would be completed by March.

Even as the Government of India has sanctioned Rs 53 crores for development of NH 39, the tender process took too much time.

Nevertheless, taking serious note of the deplorable condition of the 21 kms long stretch from Taphou to Maram, the State Government took up repairing work of the same sector under instruction of the Chief Minister.

The repairing work began in the first week of the current month after dividing the highway section into ten portions.

Repairing work has been completed for 11 kms within the same section till date, said Ranjit while reiterating that the whole section can be repaired fully within March.

In the meantime, tender process for the Rs 53 crores sanctioned by the Centre has been completed.

Due procedure to obtain approval has also been initiated.

Development work of the highway can be started in the next working positively, if not within the current working season, Ranjit said.

Once the highway development work is completed with the Rs 53 crores sanctioned by the Ministry of Surface Transport and Highways, above the ongoing repairing work, the highway would certainly become a decent highway.

He also acknowledged the cooperation extended by public leaders of Senapati district, SDSA and other organisations towards the ongoing hectic repairing work.

The Works Minister further inspected the ongoing construction work of mini-secretariat at Senapati.

The mini-secretariat building is constructed in phases after an amount of Rs 24 crores was sanctioned.

Ranjit said that show cause notice would be served to a contractor who was found not working on his portion.

Maintenance of due quality can be observed in maximum portions of the construction work, he said.

Ranjit further stated that the construction work can be completed within the current year.

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