A memorandum was submitted to the Chief Minister. President of Sambu Raiping Long Lungshim Kasar lamented that due to the pathetic road conditions, the villagers are facing hardship in commuting. The PMGSY road is not fit for movement of vehicles, he added.
TFM News Service
The Sambu area consisting of 30 villages has expressed dissatisfaction with the progress of the PMGSY road from Shirui village to Kachouphung village.
In a press conference, president of Sambu Raiping Long (SRL) Lungshim Kasar lamented that due to the pathetic road conditions, the villagers are facing hardship in commuting. The PMGSY road is not fit for movement of vehicles, he added.
Stating that not a single villager is satisfied with the construction of road under PMGSY, Lungshim Kasar asked, “Is the development work for the villagers or the contractors? Why are our areas always neglected?”
He further said, “If you consider us as a part of Manipur, we want equal development. No vehicles can be plied on this road once the monsoon season sets in. We have requested so many times for rectification of the PMGSY road but we see no changes despite the assurance given by the Work Minister who has inspected the said road and travelled till Kachouphung.”
“We want the assurance given by the Work Minister to translate into action. Our area is facing hardship in transporting sick people, especially Covid-19 patients since no vehicle can travel. We appeal to the concerned authority to kindly look into our grievances at the earliest,” he added.
Airing similar views, convenor of SPEC LM Able said, “For many years we have put forward our grievances to the concerned department, many inspections and surveys have been carried out along with concerned departments.” However no tangible results can be seen till date, he added.
LM Able further said, “The Works Minister has visited the area and has instructed us to submit the area for rectification at the earliest in the presence of MLA, DCs and Tangkhul Naga Long. Accordingly, the people in the Sambu area have put forward 40 portions that require rectification.”
However, no rectification work has been carried out till date, he added.
“If the concerned authority fails to address our grievances at the earliest, we will be compelled to take up democratic forms of agitation,” he warned.
In this regard, a memorandum was submitted to the Chief Minister of Manipur through the Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul on Saturday. The memorandum was jointly signed by President of Sambu Raiping Long (SRL), Lungshim Kasar, Convenor of SPEC LM Able, Secretary of Sambu Raiping Katamnao Long (SRKL), Ephraim Rayi, Secretary of SRL, Masopam Kasar and Secretary of SPEC, Mavatmi Kasar.
The memorandum urged the CM to speed up the work progress as assured by the Minister of works (RD & PR) of PMGSY road from Shirui village to Kachouphung village, particularly, for the portion of Chamu village to Phungtha via Khayang village.
It stated that execution of earth works under various agencies/contractors for PMGSY Stage-1 on the stretch has been allegedly completed. However, the road in its present condition is a seasonal road due to faulty alignment and steep gradient. Sambu Raiping Long, representing the civil organisation of the area, has approached the concerned department on numerous occasions in the past for rectification.
According to the memorandum, the District development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) with Dr Lorho S. Pfoze, Member of Parliament in the chair in its meeting on 20/09/2019 at Hotel Imphal resolved to inspect the works executed under PMGSY.
MLA Alfred Kanngam Arthur in pursuance of the resolution adopted by DISHA on 20/9/2019 along with the Deputy Commissioner of Kamjong District, SDO/BDO of Sahamphung Block, Ukhrul and Kamjong and the concerned department with the Additional Chief Engineer of MSRDA conducted a joint inspection on 03/12/2019.
Another joint inspection was conducted on 12 – 13 February, 2020 under the MLA of 44-Ukhrul Assembly Constituency with the DC of Kamchong, SDOs/BDOs of Sahamphung, Kamjong and Ukhrul Districts, Chief Engineer, Additional Chief Engineer and 3 engineers of MSRDA. A thorough survey was conducted and GPS mapping for the same was taken by the department.
The Chairman of Hill Area Committee (HAC), concern MLA of 43- Phungyar Assembly Constituency, Leishiyo Keishing also visited the said village/areas on 24 -25 November, 2020; a move for rectification was voiced on the same tour and assurance thereof was obtained, said the memorandum.
It further said the Minister of Works had also visited the area on April 4, 2021 and had given assurance in front of the public, MLA 44-Ukhrul, Chief Engineer, DC Kamjong, DC Ukhrul and CSO leaders of the area that the faulty alignment will be corrected at the earliest and the demand of the public will be met. He had addressed the public on the need of bringing development as per the need and wishes of the public. Therefore, the Khayang village accordingly, coorporated with the department in finding new diversion of the faulty portions and the same report had been submitted.
“But, to our utter shock and disbelief, no work has been done till date. We earnestly appeal to you to speed up the work progress in regard to the PMGSY road from Shirui village to Kachouphung village, particularly, of the agreed portion of Chamu village to Phungtha via Khayang village. The Civil Society Organisation of the area along with the villages will launch a stern agitation if the work is not taken up within the month of September, 2021,” it added.
The PMGSY road from Shirui to Kachouphung is 103 km. Kachouphung is located at the extreme east bordering Myanmar sharing International Border Pillar No. 121.