Complaining about the inconveniences caused by ongoing road widening activities along the national highway-37, Imphal West Students’ Club (IWSC) Khumbong has appealed to authorities concerned to seriously look into the matter and complete the project at the earliest.
In a release, IWSC stated that the ongoing road widening activities along the stretch of Oriental College to New Keithelmanbi on NH-37 (3.275 km to 15.940 km, package-1) has caused health hazards to the people living in the vicinity of the road.
Enormous volumes of dust have been emitting continuously because of the irresponsible ongoing construction activities, the club stated.
People living in the vicinity of the road, commuters, schoolgoing children etc are facing breathing problems and other respiratory diseases, the club said, adding that this prolonged situation is making it difficult for people to even stroll out from their respective homes.
Several verbal complaints had been made to the field staff of the contracting firm, Sri Avantika Contractors (1) Ltd for taking up the adequate measures to control the situation.
However, this issue has been going on since the last few months and no adequate measures have been taken up, it added.
The release said the present measures of sprinkling water along the road is not adequate and that there is a need to increase the number of dedicated water carrying trucks/tankers for continuous water sprinkling to control dust along the road.
As they are no longer able to tolerate the condition, the authorities of National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) and Manipur Pollution Control Board should look into the above situation seriously.
They should instruct the contractor concerned to take up adequate measures without any further delay, it said, while warning that IWSC, Khumbong may compel to take legal assistance in the form of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to intervene the matter, if visible adequate measures are not taken up at the earliest.
