Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 25, 2010:
State works Minister, K Ranjit continues to blame Border Road Organisation (BRO) for the bad condition of the Taphou-Maram section of the NH-39 even as the blacktopping works of the highway undertaken by his department is in progress.
Works Minister, K Ranjit along with tribal development and veterinary minister DD Thaisii and officials of the state PWD today inspected the progress of the road improvement works on the 23 kilometer stretch of the section of the highway.
The section of the highway is in pathetic condition since long is well aware to the government too.
But BRO is responsible for the maintenance of the section, government waited for the full utilization of the funds released to the BRO authority.
The worsen condition of the road is the outcome of long delay in waiting full utilization of the funds released to the BRO as no fresh fund could not be availed until BRO completely utilized the fund sanctioned on them.
The improvement works started taken up with state funds in view of the problems facing by the people owing the bad condition of the section as well as importance of the road for the state of Manipur, Ranjit said.
State government took clearance from the Union ministry of surface transports and highways in taking up the works, he said adding that a fund amounting to Rs 53 crore has been earmarked.
With earmarked fund, state PWD is planning to take up black topping works.
The works will be handled by a company which already approved for offering the contract work by the state government.
So far 50 percent works of blacktopping has completed and efforts are on to complete the work before the advent of the rainy season.
The improvement works will be stopped during the five day Yaosang festival, the minister said.
President of Naga People Organisation, N Dilii Moa who was present during the ministers� visit expressed satisfaction observing that the ministers are taking keen interest knowing the sentiment of the people on the bad condition of the road.
If work minister took keen interest and inspects personally the improvement, the condition of the NH-39 can be keep in good condition, Dilii said sharing his opinion that disturbing in the road improvement works is like killing themselves.
Every section of the society, organisation should extend their corporations in government�s efforts in improving the road networks.
He even suggested naming the highway after the minister�s name.
On the way to inspect the highway, the ministers team accompanied by a media team also took stoke of the progress works of the construction of guest house, mini secretariat, recreation centre and checked quality control of the construction works.
Minister Ranjit instructed to replace the windows and doors of the guest house construction observing that the quality of woods used in making the windows and door were of not good quality.
The minister also discovered not controlling of qualities of the RCC in the Mini Secretariat building construction.
On the way he also inspected the construction works of temporary composite check post at Henbung which he had instructed to control quality well in the construction in his earlier visit.