Imphal, October 05: The current impasse over the dismal condition of Pallel-Chandel road is set to cover the Imphal-Moreh National Highway 39 route as agitation supporters reiterated their pledge to take the issue to its logical end by intensifying the stir from tomorrow onwards until the problem is addressed in a positive manner.


Barricades and burning items put up in the middle of the Pallel-Chandel route to protest the abysmal condition of the road

Protesting the alleged indifferent attitude of State authorities, volunteers of agitation sponsors today came out in strong numbers to demonstrate along the 16 kilometre Pallel to Chandel district headquarters road.

It may be mentioned that decrying cancellation of contract order for developing/repairing these road stretch, Anal Students' Union, Anal Tribe Union, Lamkang Students' Union, Chandel District Contractors' Association, Unified Sporting Association had imposed indefinite bandh even as transport bodies had ceased passenger service.

Interacting with some reporters at the agitation route today, joint secretary of the Contractors' Association Lovingson Anal and president of ASU BS Shemhring expressed strong condemnation over the Government's inconsiderate attitude to inconveniences faced by the general public.

ridiculing State Government's order for annulling the work programme, they pointed out that requisite fund for the road development on this section had already been sanctioned Rs 24 crore by the Centre.

According to Lovingson, 24 contractors of Chandel district after possessing work order in March had begun the work from their own respective resources from July this year starting with land levelling (roadside hills) and road width expansion thereby spending nearly Rs 3 crore in the past four months.

However, with the Govt dubiously cancelling the work programme citing fund paucity members of the contractors' body and Chandel public were unanimous in suspecting and condemning the Govt conduct, said Lovingson.

He also cited fervent appeals from the district denizens to revoke the cancellation order evoking hardly any positive action as the chief factor for the public resorting to road blockade agitation.

To condemn Government's inconsiderate attitude as well as denounce backtracking of the Works Minister despite assuring to look into the matter, decision to enforce the agitation along the Pallel-Moreh route of NH 39 from 6 am tomorrow for an indefinite period with active support of KSO, Chandel unit was taken, quipped Shemhring.

Apart from pointing out that the agitators' only proposal concerns revocation of the cancelled work order, they further asserted that Chief Minister O Ibobi's proposed visit to Chandel headquarters on October 11 for a foundation laying programme would be boycotted in case the matter is not addressed positively.

When contacted Chandel's Deputy Commissioner Norbert Disinang quoted Department-concerned officials as saying that the Centre provision of Rs 24 had lapsed its utilisation period.

Divulging further details the DC maintained that the said amount sanctioned under the Additional Central Assistance scheme was supposed to be utilised within the 2005-06 financial year.

He also conveyed of the said officials referring to extended period in allocating the work order for lapse of implementation period.

Contending that he is maintaining close contact with Minister and Department officials concerned to scour alternative fund source in order to develop the road stretch, Disinang appealed to the agitators to review their decision to boycott the CM's visit.

Ensuring smooth visit of the CM to lay foundation stone for the Mini Secretariat building in the district headquarters would be far more positive move towards ameliorating problems of Chandel public, the DC explained.

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