Imphal, September 15: Remnants of numerous foundation stones that have been laid, official buildings that have been inaugurated without the required basic infrastructure and incomplete development projects sponsored both by the Centre and the State Government have become the hallmarks of the underdeveloped Tamenglong district of Manipur.

A recent inspection tour jointly conducted by Zeliangrong Students Union, Manipur (ZSUM) and mediapersons at Tamenglong district headquarters and Tamei sub-division was a revelation of the half-hearted efforts being made by the Government to develop one of the most backward districts of the State.

Though the construction of the 33/11 KV Power Sub-Station at Tamei under NLCPR with funding through DONER was to begin in 2004 with the target of commissioning it by 2007, the project is yet to take off the ground, literally.

It is still lying in the stage of the foundation stone which was laid by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh on February 8 this year.

The construction of the JNV at Tamenglong for which the Chief Minister had also laid the foundation stone in January last year is no different.

Even the land development work is yet to be completed.

The PHC at Tamei was inaugurated by the Chief Minister on February 8 this year.

But the smooth functioning of the health centre has been crippled due to lack of basic infrastructure.

Apart from inaugurating the centre without the required furniture and equipment, condition of the staff quarter has become so apathetic that the doctors and other paramedical staff are putting up at the building which once served as the PHC.

The are also no chair, table and other furnishing items at the DIET Centre at Tamei which had also been inaugurated by the Chief Minister on the same day as the PHC.

ZSUM has urged the Government to look after the infrastructural requirements of both the PHC and the DIET Centre.

Apart from the delay in the completion of the work on the road stretching from Tamei via Konphung (Nagaland border) to Tening in Nagaland with funding from NEC, the suspension bridge constructed over Barak river had been swept away in the water current thus cutting off the communication and transport line.

Over and above this cracks have also started appearing on the bailey bridge construction over Magui river along Manipur-Nagaland border even before its inaugural.

Aggrieved over finding sub-standard materials being used for the construction of the Composite Water Supply scheme at Tamenglong District at an estimated cost of Rs 4.65 crores under RSVY, the student body imposed restriction on all construction related activities of the said scheme.

The team also inspected the ongoing construction work of the Imphal-Tamenglong Road, which has reached Tamei.

It was found that WBM work on Tamenglong side of the road has been almost over, but nothing has been done on the Senapati side of the road.

ZSUM urged the contractors concerned to expedite the road work.

Taken serious note of snapping of the optical fibre cable of the Telecom at various points during the course of repairing the drainage as these cable have not been laid properly, the student body has also drawn the attention of the authority concerned to the manner of executing the OFC laying work from Tamenglong to Nungba.

While inspecting the condition of the educational institutions at Tamei and Tamenglong, the joint team found nothing worthwhile to write home about.

The inspection team also covered the construction work of the ITI being taken up at Tamenglong.

Though the construction of the staff quarters is almost completely, the construction of the main building has stopped after erecting of the pillars, as the contractor has allegedly not come to the work site any more.

Comment