Ibobi on Tidim Road expansion/construction "We must accomplish it or resign"
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 09, 2014:
Chief Minister Okram Ibobi has issued strict instructions to all concerned to complete the expansion work on both sides of Tidim Road from Keishampat to Malom as fast as possible.
Chief Minister O Ibobi, accompanied by Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar, Health Minister Phungzathang Tonsing, PWD Additional Chief Engineer Kh Temba and other officials, made a field assessment of the ongoing Tidim Road expansion work.
The Chief Minister made no effort to conceal his displeasure at the ongoing pace of the road construction work.
He then issued strict instructions to the concerned Minister and officials to expedite the road construction work and finish it as early as possible.
Addressing Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar directly, Ibobi stated that the road expansion work was too slow.
"We represent the Government and we are running the Government.
We should discharge our duties with conviction when we are in charge.
If we cannot accomplish what we have attempted to, we must resign," Ibobi asserted.
The officials have a notion that Ministers including the Chief Minister would come and go away.
As such, there is a need for the relevant Ministers to monitor all public works continuously, he stated.
On being enquired about the slow pace of work, the contractor replied that the road expansion work could not be expedited due to frequent rainfall.
But this response only infuriated the Chief Minister.
Assuring that he would provide necessary fund if the slow pace of work has anything to do with money, Ibobi made it clear that Tidim road expansion is a question of the State's prestige.
"This is a question of the State's prestige.
I would pay whatever amount needed but press all available machinery into service", Ibobi instructed the contractor.
Even if the surface levelling work is completed, black topping cannot be done immediately.
Keishampat-Malom section of Tidim road should be expanded to the level of a six-lane highway with necessary funding from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway.
However, the Ministry has not sanctioned any fund so far even though the State Government has already paid compensation and acquired necessary land.
Although the State Government has no money to construct the road as a standard road, it is determined to construct the expanded road at least superficially ahead of the Manipur Sangai Festival 2014 scheduled in the month of November.
The same highway section is the most convenient and popular route connecting Imphal City to Tulihal International Airport.
The Chief Minister further instructed engineers of PHED as well as Electricity Department to dig out water pipes and remove electric poles which now stand in the middle of the road after its expansion.
Ibobi appealed to all the water consumers to reconnect all their snapped domestic pipelines before the expanded road is black-topped.
Digging the road for re-connection of water pipes after it has been black topped would prove to be a serious disturbance to public.
Whether it is repairing of drain or construction of culverts required as a part of the road expansion and construction work should be initiated in the next couple of days and all these works should be completed as early as possible, Ibobi asserted.
Following the Chief Minister's strict instruction, road expansion and construction work was sped up all of a sudden.
Digging of drains across the road began this evening itself.
Officials of Electricity Department have also started erecting electric poles on the margins of the expanded road.
Meanwhile, a press release informed by the Manipur State Power Distribution Company Ltd Deputy General Manager (IED-II) informed that power would not be available in Keishampat and nearby areas for a week or so until the new poles are erected and new power lines connected.
Meanwhile PHED officials have started digging up water pipes from the middle of the road for re-laying underground along the margins of the expanded road.
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