Source: The Sangai Express / S Singlianmang Guite
Lamka, August 27 2009:
In an unprecedented development for the aggrieving masses, particularly the student community, who have been consistently calling on the state government to entrust the BRO in constructing Guite Road, Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing today assured that he will personally see to it that the will of the people is respected and the unfailing requests of various student bodies is met.
In a statement, which can be interpreted as an immediate upshot on his recent trip along the battered Guite Road, Tonsing, also the minister in-charge of Churachandpur pledged to fully back the ZSF and CDSU in their demand for the BRO to resume their work along the highway.
Tonsing initially made his statement at YPA Hall, New Lamka while launching a musical album of the 'Dove Quartette' and repeated the same during a press conference at his residence here.
'I have already taken a firm decision on my own that the BRTF should be entrusted in maintaining the Guite Road, and I will fully back the students community on their insistence for the BRO in this,' Tonsing told the press conference.
He also expresses his concern on the Singngat to Sinzawl tag officials usually made when they referred to the Guite Road.
When asked for his comment on Works Minister K Ranjit's alleged remark in regards to Guite Road during the recent assembly sitting, Tonsing, also a cabinet minister said the remarks his colleague made were 'immature' and 'misleading to the house as well as to the people'.
'The Cabinet Decision to hand over construction of Guite Road to the BRO was adopted in 2006, and I have personally pursued the case to the concern ministry.
Evidences were still with me and I can always produce it,' he said.
Despite his insistent on a pro BRO stand on the Guite Road issue, Tonsing's statement today was the first open and public statement he made on the issue since the cabinet decision in 2006 .
The Power minister also highlighted the varied initiates adopted by the department to better regulate power supply in the state and the district in particular.
'Please stop identifying me as a power minister, whose power is gone soon after I left you,' he lightheartedly joked to the media, who were often critical on the power situation.
'I will also vigorously crack down on the schemes taken up under Horticulture and ensures that befitting action is taken to any swindler,' he adds.