From Our Correspondent
KANGPOKPI | Sept 19
While construction works along Imphal-Tamenglong road are yet to be fully completed under North Eastern Council programme, the road is already beginning to crumble.
Construction work along the road, commonly known as I.T. Road, started in 2014 with an estimated budget of Rs. 78 crore, passing through the greenery of Twilang area covering more than 70 villages within a stretch of 70 Km from Kangpokpi to Tamei. Altogether, the road passes through three assembly constituencies, Kangpokpi, Tadubi and Tamei where two of the elected MLAs from the constituencies hold ministerial portfolio in the present state government.
The sub-standard quality construction of the road and absence of proper drainage had been badly affected by Cyclone Mora and incessant heavy rainfall which disappointed many people. The I.T. Road Joint Monitoring Development Committee, a conglomeration of all communities including Kuki, Naga and Nepalese have condemned the poor construction of the road on behalf of the Twilang people.
Chairman of I.T. Road Joint Monitoring Development Committee, Thangminlen Kipgen led a team of local civil bodies including media personnel to inspect the deplorable condition of I.T. Road today.
He said that in spite of covering two districts and three assembly constituencies, I.T. Road is one of the most neglected state highways in the state even if it has been looked after by the two ministers and one MLA under the state ruling party.
He also said that nothing much has been done so far though the construction of the road is funded by the North Eastern Council after being neglected by the state government for many years.
He further urged the state government to rebuild the trust deficit by repairing the road immediately before all the electorates who have voted the party to power have completely loss faith upon them.
Expressing his discontentment, an aged local, Thonglang Atongba said “during election campaign they promised to make the road vibrant for the people but when they are elected we never see them again compelling us to live under such harsh condition owing to the deplorable road”.
General secretary of KSO Sadar Hills, Ngamkhohao Haokip said that lackadaisical attitude of the state government towards the people of Twilang areas is condemnable and urged the chief minister to personally intervene into the matter and monitor the hardships of the people.
Read more / Original news source: http://www.ifp.co.in/item/3750-i-t-road-crumbles-ahead-of-completion