Villages to Ukhrul District Hqs-Only 20 kms but cut off
Source: The Sangai Express

Khangkhui (Ukhrul), May 04: Come the rainy season Veikhang area of Ukhrul district which is just 20 kms away from the district headquarters will be disconnected from the rest of the State.

Thanks to the the apathy of the State Government, the road connecting the said area to the district headquarters has not yet received even the first round of shingling, making it virtually impossible for any vehicle to reach this area, during Monsoon, which is home to the famous 'Khangkhui Caves'.

To the uninitiated, Veikhang area consists of five villages, Choither, Khangkhui Khunou, Khangkhui Khullen, Nungshong Khunou and Nungshong Khullen having a population of around 4500.

A treacherous road leading to Khangkhui village in Ukhrul District

Veikhang Katamnao Long president Wungnaosho Kasar told The Sangai Express that taxi services are available only upto Choither, while the rest of the villages can be reached only on foot.

That is why, Wungnaosho added, visitors are not able to reach Khangkhui Caves, which is a treasure trove for research materials for pre-historic times.

However, visitors can reach upto Khangkhui Khunou by vehicle, even though one must possess enough courage to travel in this bumpy and dusty road.

Beyond Khangkhui Khunou there is no motorable road upto Nungshong.

The villagers of these remaining villages have to travel atleast 15 km through the short cut hilly pathways consuming around four to five hours to reach Ukhrul town, said Wungnaosho.

According to a Khangkhui Khunou villager, Kamjong can be connected by a 15 km road away from their village if the said road is built from the Nungshong side.

However, one has to travel around 30 km from the current road to reach Kamjong, he added.

He also appealed to the Government to construct the shorter road, so that they can reach Kamjong easily to sell their village produce, especially fish.

According to VKL president Wungnaosho Kasar, the Ukhrul-Nungshong road was partially repaired under International Food and Agriculture Development (IFAD) fund some time back.

The State Government also carried out some shingling works in some selected stretch of the road, but stopped suddenly in November 2007 without spelling out any reason, he added.

Since then, Wungnaosho said, nobody has come back to resume the remaining works.

Wungnaosho also urged the Government to develop Khangkhui Caves as a tourist destination by constructing proper connecting roads and adding the required infrastructures to the site.

This reporter came across a few culverts during a foot travel of about 7 km on the stretch between Khangkhui Khunou to Khangkhui Caves.

According to Khangkhui Khullen headman Kathing, it was constructed under PMGSY's inter-village road construction.

Meanwhile, Nungshong Khullen headman informed The Sangai Express that despite the fact that the villages of Nungshong Khunou, Nungshong Khullen, Shangching, Changa and Nunga have been reeling under dark since the HT line of about 10 km was stolen in October 2005, electric bills are still coming to every homes of these villages.

The headman added that the thief was pulled up with the wires that day itself by the villagers and handed over to the police.

However, no case in this regard has been registered against the thief till date, he added.

The headman said that villagers have to rely on burning pinewood for light if SK oil and candles are not available in village shops.

He urged the Government to reinstate the stolen HT line to these villages and bring back light to their homes.