Aggrieved villagers threaten to boycott Congress party
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 07 2016: Furious villagers covered under the Langka Turel Areas Development and Action Committee (LTADAC) and IT Road Joint Monitoring and Development Committee, Kangpokpi to Tamei has threatened to boycott the ruling Congress in the ensuing State Assembly election 2017 for its alleged negligence in constructing the 16 km long IT Road to Langka Part-II road under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) .

The LADAC comprises of villages in the adjoining areas of Tamei, Saitu, Kangpokpi and Tadubi Assembly Constituencies of Senapati and Tamenglong districts.

The villages are inhabited by different ethnic communities like Liangmei, Kuki, Nepali and Meitei.

IT Road to Langka Part-II road

The work for the road with package number 6144 commenced from 2014-15 in the ninth phase of PMGSY where earthwork in embankment, granular sub-base, metaled layer or WBM in two layer and bituminous layer was said to be maintained.

Even though WBM is completed for the entire road, some sectors were missed out and till today black topping has not yet commenced.

The road is supposed to connect Kangchup Chingkhong, Leimakhong and Noney bazar.

More than 30 villages settled in the area are to receive benefit from the road in transportation and communication.

Alleging that the contractors of the project have failed to complete the work in time, the LTADAC and IT Road Joint Monitoring and Development Committee, Kangpokpi to Tamei have urged the authorities concerned to look into the matter and take necessary steps at the earliest in the larger interest of the people residing in the area.

Chairman of LTADAC, Ch Phenry told media persons that works executed by the contractor are below standards.

He added that necessary raw materials including sand, stones for road pavements were supplied to the contractors for free, except for labour charges.

Villagers have been providing all necessary cooperation and help to the road construction work.

He added that the villagers have been defending the contractors and workers from different social elements who could disrupt the road development project.

Though numerous complaints and requests were made by the villagers, the State Government has not taken any concrete steps to pressure the contractors to complete the work within the stipulated time.

The contractors have been approached repeatedly but assurance was given to villagers that road construction would resume and will be completed by February.

Unfortunately, the authorities concerned and contractors have completely neglected the villagers, he alleged.

While a bridge which is built over the Langka River (a tributary of Irang River), IT Road to Langka is still incomplete much to the disadvantage of the villagers, he added.

Further he urged the authorities concerned to take up necessary steps at the earliest as the said road is the lifeline of thousand of villages settled in the area.

Village chief of Old Thenjang, Paominlal Lhouvum alleged that necessary procedure and steps which are supposed to be maintained under the PMGSY is not maintained.

Numerous potholes have appeared in the road which is yet to be blacktopped.

Drawing the attention of the authorities concerned, he said that the road construction work must be completed at the earliest.