ZSU urges for road, bridge works on Tamei-Tanning route
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 10: Urging the authority concerned to complete the development works of Tamei, Tanning-Katang road and to build the proposed bridge over Barak river along the same road at the earliest, the Zeliangrong Students' Union, Tamei area has threatened to launch various sorts of agitation in case their appeal goes unheeded.

After the suspension (bailey) bridge was inaugurated in 1998, it was washed away by a strong current of the river (Barak) three/four years later.

A makeshift bridge built by the local people over the Barak in Tamei area

Since then people on both sides of the river have been using a small makeshift bridge made by suspending narrow wooden planks to two slender ropes stretched over the river.

For the last many years, villagers of Dikiuram, Lengnong and Konphung have been relying on imports from Nagaland for essential commodities like rice, dals, kerosene, salt etc.

In return, merchandise from Moreh and timber are exported to Nagaland through Tamei Tanning-Katang road after crossing the Barak.

As the 50/60 metres long makeshift bridge is fit for pedestrians only, all commodities brought in from Nagaland have to be physically transported by the people.

The problem is more acute for the villagers of Katang part I, part II and part III located under Tousem sub-division for they have to travel till Tamei PHC for their medical requirements.

To reach Tamei A/C, they have to cross the makeshift bridge with their ailing relatives.

Taking into account the hardships being endured by students while going to their schools and the extreme inconveniences faced by the general public due to absence of a proper bridge, the people of the area have appealed for immediate construction of the proposed bridge.

Speaking to reporters, chairman of the IT Road Development Committee Wilubou said that the NEC has sanctioned Rs 6 crores building the bridge over Barak river which will provide the only link between Tamei and Tousem sub-divisions.

Even as development work of the Tamei Tanning-Katang road commenced in 1999 under the joint initiative of the NEC and the PWD, only about 2/3 kms of the road have been completed.

The development work of the road was entrusted to four work agencies.

Even as development work of the whole road was targeted for completion by March this year, more than 18 kms of the road is yet to be repaired.

Not even shingling work has been done on this larger part of the road.

Besides frequent landslides affecting the road, timber transporters use this road to export timber to Nagaland thereby further aggravating the condition of the road.

During lean period (winter season), trucks carrying timber travel along the river basin as there is no bridge while timbers are allowed to carried along the current while the river is in spate.

The timbers thus brought down by water current are pulled up besides river banks using ropes at the receiving points.

Taking serious view of the untold miseries being faced by the people of the area, convenor of ZSU Tamei area N Lungphakbou appealed to the authority concerned to complete the road development and to build the proposed bridge over Barak river.