Works minister assured to repair Imphal-Saikul road: Rajendro
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 27 2024:
Former ICHAM president Nongthombam Rajendro said that works minister Govindas Konthoujam has assured to repair the derelict Imphal-Saikul Road after the monsoon season.
He conveyed the works minister's assurance on Friday while mending potholes in Pangei area on his own expense.
Assessing the minor repair work, Rajendro said that the road, which is already in bad shape, has deteriorated further by the recent flood causing severe inconvenience to the commuters, especially students.
Concerned over the situation, he along with representatives of joint committee of 24 different clubs met works minister Govindas Konthoujam recently.
During the meeting, the minister told them that repairing the road would not be feasible during the monsoon season, and assured to commence repair work of Lamlong to Sambei stretch post monsoon, he said.
Rajendro also explained that he had mended the potholes along the Lamlong-Sagolmang stretch on multiple occasions and recently came across volunteers of Arambai Tenggol Unit 16 mending the potholes.
On seeing the volunteers, who also fights in the frontline, mending the potholes, he offered financial assistance for the work, the social activist said.
Commenting on politicisation of the society, he said that many Meira Paibi Lups and local clubs have developed political inclination, creating hurdles in taking up public service activities.
However, he felt satisfied on seeing the AT volunteers mending the potholes and he contributed shingles and roller to assist in mending the potholes from Hundred Flower School to Sambei, spanning three days.
On the last day, he got wind of a rumour of him withdrawing Rs 1.5 crore for a project concerning the road, and he was trying to swindle the fund by mending potholes.
It hurts him as he never thought of something like that since he had spent many years in the service of the people as leader of ICHAM and assisted treatment of many injured village volunteers of the current crisis on his own expense, he continued.
He simply took up the work following re'quest from different sections of the people and also he feels the inconvenience of the bad road.
He could seek legal action against the rumour mongers, who are trying to defame him but resisted the urge since Ke could not identify the root or the rumour and seeking legal action would only hurt the ignorant people.
Rajendro also asked the persons behind the rumour to produce documentary evidence if they are sure of their claim, adding that he can happily accept any public action if the rumour is true.
Rajendro further said that some locals of Keibi Kumuda under Khundrakpam AC approached him recently seeking assistance in repairing the local road saying that neither the government nor the local MLA is keen in addressing their grievances.
He did some digging into the particular road and found out that a contractor called L Baleshwar had been awarded work order titled 'Improvement of Keibi Kumuda Taretkhul Ring Road' for the road on April 26, 2023.He also found that the contractor had stopped the work after WBM and had also withdrawn Rs 35 lakh.
The project was supposed to be completed within one year and the deadline had expired in April this year but the road is not completed yet.
It was also found that the project was included in the work programme under the initiative of the local MLA, he added.
He expressed appreciation to Khundrakpam MLA for inspecting road project in Keibi and bringing up issues of compromising quality.
He then urged the MLA to look into the incomplete Keibi Kumuda road project too whose deadline had lapsed and proposed that the MLA look into the road project for Pangei Part 12 to Waiton, where WBM wprk is taken up in patches, as well as to ensure initiation of the road project of Ishikha and Leitanpokpi so that the public do not face inconveniences.
Rajendro further said that he had mended the Keibi road on multiple occasions and some persons spread rumour of him withdrawing Rs 90,000 for the work.
Despite the rumours, he has been helping the people.
However, the Khundrakpam MLA, who enjoys a monthly salary of around Rs 3 lakh and annual fund of Rs 2 crore under local area development, has been doing nothing to address grievances of his people, he added.
Comment
