Road stir, deadline set
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 21 2009: Demanding a white paper on the proposed expansion of National Highway 39 stretch at Yaiskul as well as on the development of the road along Yaiskul Police Lane, the Social Action Committee (SAC), Yaiskul has announced its decision of calling a 12-hour bandh along the National Highway stretch with effect from 6 am of January 24 if the Government fails to give a positive response before that.

SAC blocking the Yaiskul Police lane against the inordinately long time it has taken for its repair

Addressing a press conference in this regard at Yaiskul this afternoon, SAC spokesperson Dr L Debabrata Roy informed that the decision to call the bandh along the National Highway stretch from in front of Ist MR gate to Thumbuthong point has been arrived at during a public meeting today.

The decision has been constraint to take in view of the fact that the construction of the road along Yaiskul Police Lane has been pending for over one year now, cracks have already started appearing on the RCC retaining wall being constructed in place of the earlier embankment of Imphal river and cutting down of the sacred Peepul tree which is considered to be the abode of Heisnam Lairembi has begun in connection with the proposed expansion of the National Highway, Debabrata explained.

In this regard, a memorandum has also been submitted to the officials concerned of the Government and the copy of the same forwarded to the Works Minister.

But so far no response have been received, he rued.

Apart from resolving to stop the ongoing construction work on the retaining wall and all other activities related to the road expansion work, today's meeting has also decided to submit a memorandum to the Chairman of the 13th Finance Commission Bijay Kelkar who arrived at Imphal today and lodged a complaint with the Manipur Human Rights Commission, Debabrata conveyed.