Villagers urge MSRRDA to issue 'corrigendum' on road construction order
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 22 2015:
Three organisations from Ukhrul District � Veikhang Development Front (VDF), Sampu Raiping Long (SRL) and Raizan Long (RL) on behalf of the people of Sampu area have urged the Manipur State Rural Roads Development Agency (MSRRDA) to issue a "corrigendum" on an order pertaining to the construction of road under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Phase VI .
In a press note, VDF Chairman Atungleng; SRL President Gideon Zimik and RL Chairman C.Zingshongam said that the road construction under PMGSY phase VI from National Highway (NH)-150 to Khangkhui Khunou via Choithar should be undertaken in the same alignment given in the previous plan as per Basic Minimum Service (BMS) before converting the same under PMGSY.
The villagers said that the PMGSY road which was being constructed under Phase VI and VIII passes through Veikhang area and this does not mean that the road belongs to only Veikhang area.
They alleged that some people from Veikhang area are "obstructing" the construction work of the road and its completion based on the previous BMS scheme based alignment.
This has led to untold suffering by the people hailing from Easter Ukhrul who have been longing the completion of the road since a long time, they claimed.
The three organisations informed that the previous road alignment under BMS was the "most viable" in Veikhang area since its demarcation in 1985-86 as per the wishes of the people.
During Rishang Keishing's regime in 1988, the construction of four bridges was also undertaken along the same road.
The previous road alignment under BMS from NH-150 passing through Veikhang area � Gamnuam-Kamjong-Konkan Thana which finally connects with Myanmar and South East Asian countries is also the "shortest" and the best road alignment from Ukhrul District Headquarters besides providing connectivity to all villages of Easter Tangkhul area under the district, claimed the three organisations.
They have also alleged that "some vested individuals" from Khangkhui Khullen in collusion with one Executive Engineer, Building Division-IV/PIU-Ukhrul, PWD changed the "original DPR" of work package No. MN0916, T01/NH-150 to Choithar, dated 30-12-2008 and attempted to alter the original alignment under BMS from Choithar through a rugged area towards Khangkhui Khullen under the pretext of providing connectivity to a non-functional Primary Health Centre/Junior High School at Khangkhui Khullen.
Asserting that they would stiffly oppose such moves, the three organizations have urged the MSRRDA to issue an order as per the previous one based on BMS.