Engineers rally for work sans pressure
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 17: Sending out a chilling reminder that developmental works entrusted to the State's Public Works Department (PWD) could not be executed properly due to intervention from various quarters hundreds of engineers working in four engineering departments today took out a silent protest rally in the capital city.

The rally assumes significance as some days back unidentified persons suspected to be activists of underground organisation abducted a Superintending Engineer (SE) of the Power Department L Priyokumar .

Engineers participating in the protest rally against pressure exerted to them from various quarters

Apart from unsuitable working atmosphere created by disruptive elements, the Engineers also highlighted frequent interventions by Ministers and MLAs regarding issuance of work order and clearance of bills.

The rally was preceded by a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister on March 13 wherein the Engineers threatened to resign enmasse from their service in case State Government could not provide a secure and conducive working atmosphere.

The protestors included engineers of the PWD, Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Public Health Engineering Department and Power Department.

The memorandum highlighted the fact that it is engineers and technocrats who are most responsible in taking the State towards a progressive and developed society contrary to which they have to endure unbearable pressure from all quarters.

Engineers have been threatened, face mental trauma, undergo physically assault, shot at and their houses bombed thereby arising question of survival under such circumstances, mentioned the representation while pointing out that 'most unfortunately the government has been remaining as a silent spectator through all these happenings'.

The demands include freedom from undue pressure allegedly exerted by ministers, MLAs, political parties or any other organisations upon the engineers and staffs of the engineering departments.

There should be complete transparency in the functioning of the engineering department without any scope for concealment, it maintained.

The Engineers lamented that their roles have become so low that they are projected as 'culprits and creators' of all wrong doings in the State and prevailed upon all concerned to understand that Engineers in reality are actually 'victims of the system'.

After assembling at the PWD head office where a brief protest was also staged, the engineers marched through Khoyathong, Nagamapal, Wahengbam Leikai, Keishampat and Paona Bazar before returning to starting point where they persisted with their protest for the day.

They held placards inscribed 'Do not force us to do wrong', 'Give us peace, make us work', 'Do not hold us on ransom, we also have families', 'Stop political influence' and 'transparency is the need of the hour'.

chief engineer of PWD Ng Rastrapati interacting with reporters on the sideline of the protest contended that the engineers have always been victimized by the pressures mounted from all quarters Ministers, MLAs, NGO and banned organisations.

"If we defy such pressures mounted by Ministers or MLAs ultimately transfer and posting would be effected and this has impeded in the proper execution of important tasks.

On top of this, there have been frequent incidents of intimidation, abduction, assault on engineers and attack on their houses by underground groups," he asserted.

Despite Power department officials disclosing that unidentified men had abducted SE Priyokumar while he was coming to his Keishampat office on March 15 morning, police sources said no complaint has been lodged on the matter as yet.