Senapati-Phaibung road (128.9km) project was implemented under the NLCPR scheme with funding shares of 90% by the central government and 10% by the state government. The construction started in 2002 and even after 19 years, the work is lying incomplete
By Solomon Sha, TFM Senapati Special Correspondent
Villagers have barred BRTF officials from taking back road construction machinery and labourers without completing ongoing Senapati-Phaibung road construction, sources said on Thursday. Senapati-Phaibung road (128.9km) project was implemented under the NLCPR scheme with funding shares of 90% by the central government and 10% by the state government. The construction started in 2002 and even after 19 years, the work is still incomplete.
The BRTF officials were forcefully taking away the construction materials on Wednesday morning despite opposition by villagers and Senapati-Phaibung road development committee members. The villagers requested the BRTF officials not to evict the materials as the work is.
Sources said that as the BRFT adamant to the request of the public, the villagers compel to stop vehicles at Ngawar village who try to evict with construction materials, including bitumen and other. The villagers said that it annoyed them as BRTF tried to leave forcefully by using police personnel by informing the district administration. However, the villages have approached the district administration with their genuine concern in this regard and stopped use of the security personnel, sources added.
In this regard, Senapati-Phaibung road development committee has written letter to the commandant 25 BRTF, Lamphel Imphal, C/O 99 APO on Wednesday appealing not to evict of road construction materials and labourers from the Senapati-Phaibung road construction site before completing road construction at Tingsong, Ngamju and Khongdei villages.
The letter stated that the concerned villages have been on a protest rally with the slogan “Do not leave S.P. road as orphan”, “Expedite S.P. road construction”, “Revive S.P. road construction”, “Do not abandon S.P. road” etc and urged for earliest completion since August 2021.
The letter also mentioned that the road development committee on many occasions has submitted memorandum and representations to the concerned authorities of the government of Manipur for early release of funds on behalf of the road construction agency (BRTF).
The letter stated that chief minister N Biren Singh has assured the road development committee to release the remaining balance at the earliest date. President Senapati –Phaibung road development committee N Benjamin Tao and secretary Senapati-Phaibung road development committee RL Paongi appealed to the concern authority to understand the situation and pursue together for earliest release of fund to resume the construction work for the larger interest of the neglected villages.
It may be mentioned that Ex-ADC 19-Lakhamai DCC Benjamin Tao has written a letter to the chief minister in June 2021 and PWD minister Thongam Biswajit Singh in July 2021 to intervene in the construction problem.
The letter stated that Senapati-Phaibung road (128.9km) to CL. 9 specification was entrusted to BRO/25 BREF by DONER ministry and the project was implemented under the NLCPR scheme with funding shares of 90% by the central government and 10% by the state government. The construction started in 2002 and even after 18 years, the work could not be completed due to non release of funds by the state government (its share).
It stated that Senapati-Phaibung road has been running for the past 18 years without any repairs other than minor repairs done by few ADC members in collaboration with the villagers till date.
Senapati-Phaibung road which begin from NH-2 at TNK Senapati village is the only road that connects southern Lepaona villages and Chilivai villages adjoining 18 villages is one of the most neglected zone of eastern Senapati district, the border of Senapati –Ukhrul district along the Iril River.