Kasom Khullen continues to reel under Govt neglect
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 09 2008: Notwithstanding the grand objectives of bringing about all-round development in the country under the comprehensive plan of Vision 2020, it remains highly doubtful whether the Vision 2020 would have any noticeable impact in Manipur where most of the schemes and programmes taken up by the Central Government towards this end have not been implemented properly.

Absence of Government offices or Departments and non-functioning of Government offices, even if present, in remote areas of the State including sub-divisional headquarters is one primary reason that is jeopardising the Government's grand vision.

READY FOR VISION 2020: A vehicle makes its way through the slush that passes off as a road at Kasom Khullen

In a typical case of the remote areas of Manipur, there has been no comprehensible change in Kasom Khullen sub-division of Ukhrul district for the last 60 years due to improper or non-implementation of development programmes.

Even though several Government offices are located in the sub-division, most of them remain literally defunct.

Deeply concerned with the prevailing situation, the people inhabiting the 44 villages under the sub-division and the Kasom Khullen Sub-Division Development Association have appealed to the Government to activate and streamline the functioning of all Government located in the sub-division and also to develop transport infrastructure.

A team of reporters went to Kasom Khullen sub-division yesterday and conducted a direct assessment of the under-developed condition.

Even as some Government offices including a police station have been constructed newly, all the offices were found lying idle with no staff.

Kasom Khullen was officially declared subdivisional headquarters in 1972.After its police station was wrecked by a storm, construction of a new building started in the last few years but it still remain incomplete.

With the police station being manned by inadequate personnel, people do not have any idea about what the police station did for the security of people.

The villagers said that they have been facing various difficulties in maintaining law and order in the area.

The media team on visiting the sub-division's Primary Health Centre found that it has adequate physical infrastructure.

Ironically, the PHC was found defunct.

On being enquired, it was discovered that though the PHC building, staff quarters and the infrastructure were built and installed in 2003, it has not been inaugurated yet. The PHC could not function due to absence of staff and lack of equipment.

Under similar circumstances, four Primary Health Sub-Centres located in the sub-division also remain paralysed causing severe hardships to the villagers in terms of medical assistance, conveyed the villagers.

The lone Telecom sub-station of the sub-division also remain defunct even as it has all the necessary infrastructure thereby denying telecommunication facilities to the people.

Out of 44 villages under the sub-division, 19 are yet to be electrified, they informed while urging the Department concerned to install the 33/11 KV power sub-station reportedly sanctioned by the North East Council for the sub-division and also to utilise the fund sanctioned for the same purpose properly and without any delay.

The State highway connecting Imphal to Kasom Khullen sub-divisional Hqs which are only 80 kms apart presents a pitiable sight.

With the road connecting Chandrakhong (Mayai Keithel) and Kasom Khullen and Khonglou village left to its own fate for the last 25 years, it takes 7 to 8 hours in travelling from Chandrakhong to Kasom Khullen Hqs.

Any one travelling along the road in light motor vehicles should be more careful so as to avoid the wheel falling in the wheel lines made by heavy vehicles Once the wheel falls into the wheel line of heavy vehicles, one may get stranded by the slush and mud for several hours or the whole day and night, the villagers informed.

Conveying that the villagers and the Kasom Khullen Sub-Division Development Association have been urging upon the Department concerned and the Chief Minister through repeated memoranda to repair the road, they decried that all their appeals have fallen into deaf ears.

They further informed that the villagers will take the onus of developing the road if the Government fails to pay attention to the pathetic condition of the road at the earliest.

They further warned that they will burn down all Government offices located in Kasom Khullen sub-division besides taking up various other forms of agitation in case the Government fails to activate all the defunct offices within a short time.