Khousabung Youth Club repair neglected road
- Khousabung Youth Club -

Khousabung, the 16th October, 2011

Failure of Government: Volunteers of Khousabung Youth Club in Churachandpur District repairing 'Dr Kalam Road' between Moirang - Bunglon, which was left unattended for years by the Government

The road from Moirang to Khousabung-Bunglon may be just 5kms long. The road has been in used for the last 75 years. However, the grim story is that, no government agency has attended the road, though it could be regarded as a mini-highway, due to the frequency of traffic flows in this road. The road has been black-topped once in 75 years, when the then President of India landed at Bunglon High School on October 16, 2006. In a befitting tribute to the former people’s President, the people of the area has named the Moirang-Bunglon road as ‘Dr Kalam Road’.

The story of neglect and deprivation continues unabated. It is most painful to know that no government agency has ever taken care to repair the road, which is as much an insult to the former President of India. During the last 5 years since 2006, no repairing work has been ever done by the government. The people of the area have waited for long wishing when the road be repaired and black-top again, as was the case in 2006 with the impending visit of the first citizen of India.

There are a number of vehicles plying on Dr Kalam Road each day. However, the road is in dilapidated and bulky conditions and there is fear of major accident if the road is left unattended for long. The road has been the lifeline of the people of Thangjing area comprising about 50 villages with a population of about 35 thousands.

In the midst of neglect and deprivation, the Khousabung Youth Club has taken the lead to repair the road themselves, with no assistance from the government. Its a case where the people themselves took the lead when the government of the day fails in their duty.

Failure of Government: Volunteers of Khousabung Youth Club in Churachandpur District repairing 'Dr Kalam Road' between Moirang - Bunglon, which was left unattended for years by the Government

‘Since no government agency ever care for us, we decided to repair the road by ourselves’, says Hemang Khongsai, President of the Khousabung Youth Club. Talking to media persons, Hemang Khongsai calls upon the power that be to swing into action before the patience of the public cross the limits. ‘We don’t demand a place under the sun, however, we only demand good roads because it is the only lifeline of the people of Thangjing area’, the the youth leader. We will not tolerate injustice for long, he added.

Due to the ugly condition of Dr Kalam Road, hundreds of commuters face untold misery while travelling on the road. For students who were studying in Moirang, travelling on this bumpy-humpy road is like a hell. For the poor village folks, who were going to Moirang bazaar for marketing, it’s a nightmare for them. For the traders, since Khousabung being the ‘capital’ of pineapple in the state, travelling on the road has been a devilish experience. For the larger public, the bad road condition is a death-knell for progress and development of the area.

In view of the above, the Khousabung Youth Club appeals to both the Central and State Governments to repair the ‘Dr Kalam Road’ at the earliest, atleast in honour of the then President of India, even if it is not for the welfare of the poor rural villagers.

Hemang Khongsai
President, Khousabung Youth Club