Bridge inaugurations add colour to X-Mas eve
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 24: After long years of waiting, three bridges constructed by the Public Works Department (PWD), namely Keishamthong bridge, Singjamei bridge and Heirangoithong bridge were finally inaugurated and dedicated to the people today.

Works Minister K Ranjit inaugurating the Keishamthong bridge

However, Joint Action Committee on Singjamei Bridge Construction has taken strong exception to the inauguration of the bridge even before construction of the retaining wall and black-topping of the approach roads and contended that it is in violation of the agreement signed with the Chief Engineer of PWD.

Works Minister K Ranjit inaugurated the bridges one after another.

Constructed over Imphal river, the Singjamei bridge was inaugurated at 9 am and Heirangoithong bridge and Keishamthong bridge that have been constructed over Nambul river were inaugurated at 10 am and 10.50 am respectively.

According to Chief Engineer of PWD Ng Rashtrapati under whose overall supervision the construction works were taken up, the construction work on Keishamthong bridge started in March 2004 under the State Plan.

However, due to acute shortage of State Plan fund, the work could not be executed.

Hence, the required fund had been footed by the DoNER Ministry from the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR).

The total expenditure spent on the construction work was around Rs 3.58 crores, he said.

For the Singjamei bridge, the Chief Engineer said that the construction work began in July 2003 along with releasing a sum of Rs 2.23 lakhs from the State Plan.

The actual project cost at completion of the bridge including the amount sanctioned under NLCPR was Rs 371.23 lakhs.

While for the Heirangoithong bridge, the construction work began in June 1997 along with a sum of Rs 58.67 lakhs from the State Plan and the work completed along with funding from CRF.

The actual project cost at the completion of the bridge is Rs 98.43 lakhs, Rashtrapati said.

Speaking at the occasion of inaugurating the bridges, Works Minister K Ranjit observed that the co-operation and support of the people is essential in taking up any developmental works by the Government.

Without the co-operation and support of the people, the Government would not be able to do anything.

The Government has earmarked required fund for various development works to be taken up under the Works Department like construction of the road, drainage system and expansion of roads.

So, at the time of acquiring necessary land for expansion of the roads, Pattadars should keep in mind the interest of the State and its people and relinquished their land willingly, he appealed.

Education Minister L Jayantakumar, who presided over the inaugural function of the Keishamthong Bridge.

Deputy Chairman of State Planning Board E Kunjakishore Singh and an Chairman of PDA Dr Kh Loken Singh were also present at the occasion as guests of honour.

In his address, Dr Loken also stressed on the co-operation of the people in keeping the Imphal city neat and clean.

As part of the campaign to keep the city neat and clean, PDA has already taken up the initiative of cleaning and dredging the Nambul river over the last few weeks.

In order to ensure that the people settling along the bank of Nambul river do not throw garbage inside the river, garbage cans have been installed.

However, instead of utilising them, some of the miscreants have stolen these garbage cans, Dr Loken lamented.

On the other hand, Joint Action Committee on Singjamei Bridge Construction has come out strongly against what it described as the show put up for inauguration of the bridge even for construction of the retaining wall and black-topping of the approach roads on either side of the bridge.

JAC convenor K Sharatchandra Sharma asserted that inauguration of the bridge in a hasty manner is in violation of the agreement signed with the Chief Engineer of PWD.

Demanding to know who had given the completion report of the bridge construction, JAC has categorically stated that it would not remain quite in case the Government fails to do the needful in this regard at the earliest possible.