MPCC spokesperson Ningombam Bupenda Meitei contended that CM Biren’s deadline of completing Barak and Irang bridges was “physically, financially and logistically impractical”.
TFM Desk
Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee has taken serious note of union minister Nitin Gadkari’s recent public statement against chief minister N Biren Singh on the question of slow pace and progress of work, maintenance of quality standards, desire for honesty in work, and remarks on leadership. The party claimed that it had been consistently raising the issue of the state’s infrastructural developments, especially roads and highways.
Briefing the media on Thursday, MPCC spokesperson Ningombam Bupenda Meitei contended that CM Biren’s deadline of completing Barak and Irang bridges was “physically, financially and logistically impractical”.
CM Biren
Bupenda said as per the union ministry’s status report, as on June 30, 2021, the total length of Makru and Barak bridges is 2 km, at a sanctioned cost of Rs 141 crore, which he said was awarded on December 02, 2016.
“But, as per newspaper’s reports, the length of Makru Bridge is around 124 metre while that of Barak Bridge is around 154 metre. So, the total length of Makru and Barak bridges, as per the reports, would be around 278 metre, which is 13.9 percent of the total length mentioned in the ministry’s status report on the details of the project as per the contract,” he said.
“What is the actual length of the Makru Bridge built, which was inaugurated? What is the actual length of Makru Bridge as per the contract? What is the ground meaning of ‘total length of 2 km of Makru and Barak bridges’ in the contract,” he asked.
As per the newspaper reports on the statement of the chief minister of Manipur, the completion of Barak Bridge would be done by September 2021. But, he argued that considering the speed — which is at 70.40 percent in cumulative physical progress, of the projects of Makru and Barak bridges, as per the ministry’s status report, as on June 30, 2021 — the completion of Barak bridge would take around one year and nine months from July, 2021.
As per the newspaper reports on the statement of the chief minister, the construction of Irang Bridge would be completed by December, 2021. But, the contractor, as per the ministry’s status report, mentions that the date of completion would be January 11, 2023 for the Irang Bridge, which is a four-lane bridge with 0.377 Km of length, as per the contract, Bupenda said.
“Who will build the Irang Bridge – the chief minister or the contractor? If the bridge is completed before time as per the contract, then who will be held responsible if the quality standards turn out to be compromised in the future? How can the quality standards of the bridge be not compromised when the bridge, with physical progress of 2.94 percent, as per the ministry’s status report, be made to be completed within six months,” he argued.
Union minister Nitin Gadkari
The MPCC spokesperson further claimed that the statements made by union minister Nitin Gadkari during his recent visit to the state was epitomized by “contradictions”.
The union minister laid the foundation of 16 national highways projects worth Rs 4,184 crore for a total length of 298 km, which is Rs 14.04 crore per Km, recently, whereas his own ministry, as per Para 5.5 in the Annual Report of 2021 of the ministry, awarded Rs 2,939 crore for 181 km, which is Rs 16.23 crore per km in the state.
Bupenda questioned why the union minister laid the foundation of 16 NH projects at Rs 2.19 crore less for every kilometre of highways than what his own ministry awarded years back in the same state, if there were no dearth of money in the ministry in July 2021.
The union minister stated that projects worth Rs 5,000 crore have been sanctioned for the state. As per the report of NHIDCL, a fully owned company of the ministry, as on May 31, 2021, under Original Works, Preparation of DPR (Detailed Project Report) has cost of Rs 18,331 crore for 1,422 Km for Manipur, Bupenda said.
Bupenda wondered why the union minister sanctioned only Rs 5,000 crore when Rs 18,331 crore has been already prepared in DPR for the state. Should this be considered a sign of having no ‘money issue’ in the ministry, he asked.
The union minister stated that the expansion of highways in the state would be recommended under the Bharatmala Phase – II. But, Bupenda said that under Bharatmala Phase – I, already Rs 10,030 crore for 736 km for Manipur has been prepared as DPR, as per the ministry’s NHIDCL Report, as on May 31, 2021.
“When will Rs 10,030 crore be sanctioned for the state under the Bharatmala Phase – I, which is expected to be ended by 2022? How many crores will the ministry plan to sanction for Manipur under Bharatmala Phase – II, which is expected to be ended by 2024?”
As per the statement of the union minister, while starting Green Highways (Plantation, Transportation, Beautification & Maintenance) Policy, 2015, it mentions that 1 percent of the total project cost of all highway projects will be kept aside for the highway plantation and its maintenance, which will generate employment, and every planted tree will be counted and auditing will be done, using ISRO’s Bhuvan and GAGAN Satellite systems, Bupenda said.
He said that as per the ministry’s NHIDCL Report, as on May 31, 2021, for Manipur, Ongoing Works under Original Works has a cost of Rs 8203 crore for 864 Km.
The MPCC spokesperson asked the government to disclose the amount utilised under the Green Highways Policy in the state. Has auditing of planted trees been done with ISRO and GAGAN Satellite systems in Manipur, he asked.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
On the union minister’s statement that the prime minister is giving the highest priority to Manipur and the Northeast, Bupenda raised a couple of questions.
If the prime minister is giving the highest priority to Manipur, then Bupenda asked why the prime minister is allowing a decreasing value of funds for highways, with a difference of around Rs 2 crore for every kilometre for highways from that of previous years, which Bupenda said is a compromising sign on quality standards maintenance of highways in the state.
He also questioned why the prime minister is not talking about solving climate change issues in the state by strictly ensuring the auditing of planted trees as per the 1 percent Green Highways Policy since 2014.