IMPHAL, June 16: A sit in protest cum public meeting was held today at Sagolband Moirang Hanuba community hall in connection with the present deplorable condition of National Highway 53 organized by the Task Force Community (TFC), an apex body formed by various NGOs operating in the state to monitor the development of the said highway.
Speaking to media persons during the meet the president of the United Club NH-53 and executive member of the Task Force Committee, Shyama Khanganba informed that an extract copy of the detail reports of the meet along with the resolution will be sent to the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh.
The copy will also be sent to MPs of CPI, CPI (M), BJP and Trinamool Congress and request them to table the issue of Manipur NH-53 in the forth-coming Parliament session, he said.
He contended that the announcement made by the Prime Minister on June 4 assuring that the 222 Km long Imphal Jiribam road will be completed before 2013 including black topping and developmental works, has confused the people of the state. He asserted that for more than 40 years the Indian government entrusted the BRO for developing and repairing the NH but it is still lying in a deplorable condition.
While noting the notification changing the Nation Highway number 53 to 37 by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway under notification number S-O.542 (E) New Delhi, under Schedule Section No.2 and Sl.No.2, he said that the GOI failed to inform the people about the change.
Despite the announcement of home minister GK. Pillai, to sanctioned Rs300 crore during his visit to Manipur and Nagaland in 2010, no development was found along the NH-53 during the survey conducted by the Task Force Committee very recently, he added.
The Task force committee’s president has further condemned the Chief Minister for his unenthusiastic attitude towards the NH-53 and rather confining his interest within Imphal alone adding it claimed that the inspection conducted by the works minister was also just eyewash.
