Works Minister advises engineers to go to work sites
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 07 2019: Works Minister Th Biswajit has advised PWD engineers to go to work sites more frequently and strictly monitor all infrastructure development works.

A meeting of PWD's Programme Advisory Committee headed by Th Biswajit as chairman was held today at Hotel Classic Grande.

Speaking at the meeting which was attended by over 16 MLAs of both the ruling and Opposition parties who are members of the committee, Biswajit claimed that the incumbent Government has been working hard to develop road infrastructure in both the hills and valley of the State.

Stating that roads constructed with proper emphasis on quality would be far more durable and this would enable the Government to construct more roads at other places, the Works Minister asked engineers to go to fields more frequently and inspect road construction works.

Works Minister advises engineers to go to work sites

During the Go to Village and Go to Hills campaigns, the Government received petitions for construction or repairing of roads.

Although some of these petitions have been fulfilled, all the petitions could not be addressed at once on account of financial constraints.

Nonetheless, the Government has been working to address all the people's grievances in phase manner.

Land acquisition part is one major impediment to implementation of development projects.

Seeking funds from the Central Government or other sources is delayed by the Finance Department's failure to release available funds in time, Biswajit said.

Even though the State Government does not have adequate funds, the State needs to explore sources of fund in order to implement different development projects.

As such, the Government has been working hard to secure sources of fund so that several development projects can be executed expeditiously, he said.

A proposal of Rs 4500 crore for construction of roads in two phases under Manipur Rural Roads Development Programme (MRRDP) has been approved in-principle by the Central Government.

As demanded by the Central Government, a DPR of Rs 1800 crore for construction of seven roads (430 Kms) in phase I has been sent, the Works Minister informed the gathering.

Another proposal has also been already sent for construction of a number of roads from the Central Roads Fund (CRF).

If these projects are sanctioned, the State's road infrastructure would be greatly boosted, he asserted.

Tender has been floated to select a consultant for expansion of Mayai Lambi.

Once a consultant is selected, a DPR would be prepared for obtaining the Central Government's sanction.

Saying that cement concrete blocks are being used in construction of roads in water-logged parts of Guwahati, Biswajit asked engineers to go to Guwahati and see how cement concrete blocks are used in constructing roads.

The Works Department has been actively considering about using plastic wastes in road construction works.

If the same can be translated into action, it would greatly address the issue of plastic wastes apart from making the roads more durable, he said.

Work Advisory Committee vice-chairman and Government chief whip P Saratchandra, MLAs H Dingo, L Radhakishore, L Rameshore, O Lukhoi, Awangbow Newmai, Y Surchandra, S Bira, Md Ashab Uddin, P Brojen, Vungzagin Valte, D Korungthang, Md Fajur Rahim, S Subhaschandra, Khasim Vasum, K Leishiyo, PWD Chief Engineer Kh Temba and high ranking officials of Works, Planning and Finance departments attended the meeting.