Villagers protest failure to complete Senapati-Phaibung road
Source: Chronicle News Service

Senapati, August 29 2021: In protest against the long neglect and failure of constructing the Senapati Phaibung road, aggrieved villagers organised a mass rally in their respective villages.

The villagers expressed anger over the failure of completing the road construction even after 18 years by holding banners that read "Please don't leave Senapati-Phaibung road as orphan" , "Please visit Senapati-Phaibung road; 18 years but not completed", "Please revive Senapati Phaibung road, "Do not neglect Senapati-Phaibung road", etc.

People of various villages like Tingsong Khullen, Tingsong Khunou, Ngamju, Khongdei Khuman, Khongdei Shimphung, Khongdei Ngawar and others organised the mass rally in their respective places and interacted with media people.

The villagers expressed their resentment against the state government for not paying heed to the suffering of the people living in remote villages of Senapati district.

They said that 18 years is long enough to complete construction of a 128-km long road and asked the reasons for neglecting the road for such a long time.

The villagers urged the state government to complete the road project which will benefit more than 20 villages and thousands of people.

It may be mentioned here that ex-ADC 19-Lakhamai DCC Benjamin Tao had written to chief minister N Biren in June 2021 and to works minister Thongam Biswajit in July 2021 for their intervention on the issue.

The letter stated that Senapati-Phaibung road (128.9 km) to CL 9 specification was entrusted to BRO/25 BREF by DoNER ministry and the project was implemented under the NLCPR scheme with funding shares of 90% by the central government and 10% by the state government, and construction started in 2002.But even after 18 years, the work could not be completed due to non-release of the state's share.

It further said that Senapati-Phaibung road has not been repaired for the past 18 years, except some minor repairing done by few ADC members in collaboration with the villagers.

Tao also stated that Senapati-Phaibung road, which begin from NH-2 at TNK Senapati village, is the only road that connects southern Lepaona village and Chilivai village (adjoining 18 villages) and is one of the most neglected zones of eastern Senapati district, the border of Senapati-Ukhrul district along the Iril River.

He urged authority concerned to intervene and speed up the construction work without further delay.

Recently through sources, it came to light that Senapati-Phaibung road construction labourers numbering around 200 including children and women who are stationed at CPL labour camp Ngamju village under Senapati are facing food shortage.

Those labourers from different states of the country with nowhere to go when the road construction was under suspension from the month of March 2021 have been suffering due to lack of food and other essential items for the last five months.

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