Imphal, February 04 2010: Authority of the BRO today turned down offer to take over the Singhat-Singjol-Tuivai (Guite) road in a meeting under the chair of the state Chief Minister and attended by MLAs and leaders from Churachandpur district.

The meeting to discuss the demand of handing over the road to the BRO by various organisations based in the district was chaired by the Chief Minister, O Ibobi.

Commandant of the 25-BRO and officials of BRTF based in Churachandpur district attended the meeting in which MLAs of Churachandpur district, A Hangkhanpao, V Hangkhalian and around 30 leaders of civil societies based in the district took part.

State works minister, K Ranjit, Power Minister, Phungjathang Tonsing, chief engineer of PWD Loken, superintending engineer (highway division) Temba also attended the meeting from the government side.

During the meeting, representatives of the civil organisations strongly insisted on BRO authority present there to take over the responsibility of maintenance of the Singhat-Singjol-Tuivai (Guite) road.

The chief minister also asked the BRO to take over the road as pressed by the civil societies leaders but brigadier Balram of the BRO refused to do so citing that funds for maintenance of the road is obtained from the North East Council (NEC).

BRO do not take maintenance works of road funded by NEC.

The organisation handles maintenance works of only those roads that are to be used by the army and security forces funded by the Central government; he reportedly convinced the gathering in the meeting.

In the meeting, Chief Minister also informed that out of 127.18 kilometer long stretch, state PWD had already started improvement work of 38 kilometer with the fund released by the NEC.

The council sanctioned Rs 82.53 crore for improvement of the road in 2005-06.Government has spent Rs 30 crore in the improvement works of 34 kilometer starting from Churachandpur.

While asking when BRO can start the road improvement works, CM said that if the BRO agreed, government is ready to hand over the road.

The agreement can be signed today itself.

In the meantime, leaders of the civil societies stood up and shouted that if BRO agrees to handle the works, they can wait even for the next 10 years.

They can wait.

At that Chief Minister, officials of BRO could do nothing but smile.

The meeting concluded without an amicable solution.

Mention may be made that in the recently concluded Assembly session also, MLA TN Haokip and V Hangkhalian brought up the matter of handing over to BRO this segment of road during the call attention motion.

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