Historical Hump bridge : Set to become history
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 15 2011:
With vendors fully occupying the Khwairamband Hump Bridge, the monument is losing its historical importance besides obscuring its architectural beauty.
The Hump Bridge, popularly knows as Thong Nambonbi was built during the reign of Chandrakirti in 1854 AD over Nambul river and the Government of Manipur declared it a protected monument under the Manipur Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act 1976 in 1992 .
Even though the State Superintendent of Archeology had written twice to the Imphal Municipal Council as well as the DSP (Traffic) Imphal West to evict the hawkers/vendors illegally occupying the historical bridge, there has been no response as yet.
The Manipur Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act 1976 prohibits hawking or selling any goods or wares or display advertisements in any form on the premises of a protected monument.
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However, inspite of the letters written by the Superintendent of State Archeology to the IMC and the DSP (Traffic) in March 2003 and again in September last year, to evict illegal hawkers/vendors and remove hoardings and advertisements, the concerned authorities have done nothing to protect and preserve the historical monument.
At present, large numbers of hawkers and vendors including those dealing in electronic goods are seen occupying the bridge.
It has been learnt that none of the hawkers/vendors sought permission from the concerned authority.
Nevertheless, one of the hawkers said that they were selling things there under an understanding with a police OC though they did not possess any written permission.
They also disclosed that they were giving certain sum of money after collecting the amount from each hawkers for offering to police every week.