Imphal, October 07 2009: Thanks to the state government's lackadaisical approach and abject apathy, the limestones - extensively found in Ukhrul's Hundung area, are being hauled out of the state by the Border Road Task Force (BRTF).

Taking advantage of the indifferent attitude of the government, the BRTF has continued to exploit limestones in large scale from Hundung hillocks in Ukhrul district.

Meanwhile, encouraging as it may sound, the efforts of the local residents saved the bromide from being carted away from the Shiroy hilltop in Ukhrul district.

It is pertinent to note that the issue of the reported exploitation of limestone by the BRTF had rocked the State Assembly last year following media reports on the matter.

The BRTF still continues to transport the limestones.

The fact of the matter came to light during an enquiry tour by office bearers of Information Centre for Hill Areas, Manipur (ICHAM), Raphei Katamnao Long (RKL), Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long (TMNL), and media persons recently.

The touring team members, including this reporter, saw limestone being excavated and loaded in trucks and the being pounded for use in the construction of road.

It may be mentioned that the bits and pieces of the Hundung Cement factory were completely lost after the failure of the factory due, primarily, to the lapse in selecting the site.

Last year, a team of experts were there to spread awareness on the use of limestone.

Meanwhile, the interference of local residents has stopped the draining away of bromide from Shiroy hilltop.

Earlier, the precious resource of the state, bromide, had been drained away by merchants which fetches the income of other states.

ICHAM President, N Rajendro (Boy) observed that the state has the potential for large scale production of bromide and steel.

He said the raw materials are aplenty in the state.

These can be turned into a pot of gold by imparting proper training to the end users.

Boy lamented that the government has done nothing to tap the potentials of the state.

"Sole dependence on imported products reduced us to such poverty as we experience now," Rajendro observed, adding, the state government has exclusively depended on the Central sponsored schemes.

"The struggle for the control of the Central sponsored schemes has become the bone of contention amongst the people which only cause enmity among the people," he said.

He pointed out that farming of several medicinal herbs could sustain the economy of thousands of families.

He said, several resources in the hills like bamboo can be a goldmine for thousands of the people while asking "why the government is not initiating to set up a paper mill?" Tension is bound to erupt when there is no other occupation for the people, he further observed.

Rajendro said the exploitation of limestone by the BRTF should be stopped immediately and an alternative means of using the mineral should be charted out.

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