IMPHAL, December 4: People of Thangmeiband Assembly Constituency has set December 15 as a deadline for the government to complete construction work of the 1.5 km stretch of the Sanakeithel road which is lying in a deplorable condition for long.
Speaking to media persons, Thangmeiband United Club Organisation general secretary Konsam Surjit said the people are ready to contribute money through the Thangmeiband Kendra Development Organisation, TKDO if the government has no fund to complete the construction work.
Lamenting the deplorable and horrible condition of the road stretch from Watham Leirak to the Electricity Department office, people staged a sit in protest at the Khwai Lamphel Women`™s United Development Organisation, Thangmeiband Sanakeithel today.
Surjit said the road stretch has become one of the worst roads in the State and it has not been blacktopped for more than a decade or so.
The construction work of the road stretch was handled by HBS Construction private limited and the singling work is already completed, however, due to the long negligence, the condition of the road has only worsened in the past few years, he said.
Several road mishaps have happened along the road claiming many lives and leaving many disabled for life, he continued.
The dirt from the road is also creating much health hazard for people living in the area, he said.
In case the government fails to take the necessary action before December 15, they will make financial contribution and urged TKDO for financial help, Surjit asserted.
He said although the government has been neglecting the road conditions in the Assembly Constituency, many roads in the neighbouring constituencies have been blacktopped several times in the same period.
Questioning as to why the government was neglecting the said road, he said it is an important road as there are many government offices in the area.
Meanwhile, the local MLA Kh Joykishan said the decision and demand of the people are genuine.
He said he had discussed the condition of the road along with the State Chief Minister and Works minister during the ending of 2013.
He said he had accompanied the Works minister during inspection tours of the said road.
Soon after, the government had handed over the work to HBS contractor Bikram who laid the singling work of the road, however, after some months the construction work stopped abruptly and has never been continued since then, he claimed.
When he queried he was told that the work had to stop for sometime as several works were colliding, the local MLA said.
He said although at that time, he was assured that the work will be taken up soon, no work has bee taken up till date.
He said if the government fails to meet the set deadline of the people, the TKDO will take up the road construction work and he will use all the Local Area Development funds for the construction of the road.
Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/thangmeiband-locals-protest-deplorable-condition-of-sanakeithel-road/