The drama of 'black topping'
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 19, 2011:
Even after the date of completion had exceeded by one year, black topping of the road which connects NH 150 and Meitram Awang Leikai, a village situated at a distance of just 10.8 km from Imphal towards the south under Kodompokpi Gram Panchayat, Imphal West district is still incomplete.
Black topping of the road began on February 3, 2009 with work entrusted to special contractor, Ch Iboyaima from Sagolband Tera Yengkhom Leirak under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) scheme of the central government.
The total cost of the work which is funded by the Ministry of Rural Development, GOI was ` 52.84 lakhs.
The state implementing agency of the work is the Manipur Rural Road Development Agency (MSRRDA).
The concerned officer in charge of the project is Executive Engineer PIU, Imphal West.
The black topping was done partially partially in only half of the stretch of the road.
This partially completed work was found to be substandard, and work was consequently re-done with the black topping work being abandoned.
However, a hoarding erected at the entrance of the village along NH 150 reads that the black topping was completed on February 3, 2010.Moreover the stretch which is only about 900 meter long has been calculated as 2.39 km on the hoarding.
It may be mentioned that the Manipur State Rural Road Development Agency (MSRRDA) is the state implementing agency of the various PMGSY schemes taken up in the state.
Minister Md Allaudin Khan is the chairman of the agency.
The villagers are facing problems especially in the rainy season.
Moreover dust pollution also adds to the problems faced by the people.
According to local residents, the black topping work stopped following the villagers demanding quality control in the work.
The villagers said that they will seek legal assistance if the work is not completed soon and according to prescribe norms.