HC directs BRTF to make NH-53 motorable before monsoon

IMPHAL, April 1: A division bench of the Guwahati High Court, comprising of Justice T. NK Singh and Justice Mutum BK Singh, has directed the BRTF (GREF) to develop the National Highway-53 especially the Khongsang to Jiribam stretch of the highway, making it motorable before monsoon season.
In the meantime, the High Court also directed the Executive Engineer (Civil) BRTF, Rajendra Kumar, who appeared on behalf of the respondent, to submit progress reports of the development of the NH-53 from Khonsang to Jiribam within May 5 in person.
The directive comes in response to the PIL filed by the two members of the Transporters and Drivers’ Council (TDC) on July 26, 2010 against the deplorable condition of the NH-53 especially the stretch from Khongsang to Jiribam.
A press meet was held in this connection at the TDC office, MG Avenue. Briefing media persons during the meet the TDC president H. Ranjit said that the PIL was filed by its two executives, H. Kulamani and M. Tomba noticing the ground situation of the condition of the Highway and when compare with the fund released for over three decades.
In pursuant of the PIL hearing that was held today and after hearing both parties, the court taking into consideration of the importance of the NH-53, has view the necessity of prompt and effective steps required to be taken by the GREF, to whom the development of the said works had been entrusted, said Ranjit.
The court thereby gave six specific directives to the concerned BRTF (GREF) which included making the stretch of the NH-53 (Khongsang to Jiribam) motorable before the monsoon seasons starts and they shall make the stretch motorable during monsoon season and measure to be taken while encountering hindrances during the process.
Further in the directive the court clearly mentioned that if the state government needs assistance from the central agency, central force in maintaining law and order in respect of NH-53, the state government has to take necessary action and the central government, if approached by the state government in this regard, shall render all the possible assistance to the state government.
The directive also mentioned that any assistance from the side of the state government is concerned, relating to law and order problem, request should be made by the GREF in writing giving the reasons and also type of assistance required from the side of the state government.
In case if there be such request from the GREF, the state government shall take prompt action for giving effective assistance to the GREF within a week from the date of receipt of such reports, it said.
If there be any disturbance from the side of the NF Railway in the process of developmental work of the NH-53 in the course of developing the Railway line passing through Manipur, such and also blocking the drainage etc. the NF Railway authority shall remove such loose soil, slush stacking on the NH-53 as expeditiously as possible.
And moreover if there is any failure on the side of the NF in this regards the GREF shall apprise the state government, who has to take up immediate before the court on the said matter.
H. Ranjit, further speaking during the meet condemned the statement given by Eexecutive Engineer (civil) BRTF, Rajendra Kumar, terming  it a misleading statement.
He said that the BRTF had already assured the people to handle and complete the work of the highway. Besides that they had been maintaining the highway for over three decades however the clarification of shortage of man power, raw materials, law and order etc as made by Rajendra Kumar is demagoguery.
H. Ranjit, appealed the BRTF concerned not to give such misleading statement in the future.