The State has cleared only 33 metres Right of Way (ROW) in the National Highway-37 stretch in Manipur, from Oriental College to Langjing, while the Centre is demanding 45 metre ROW for development of the highway.
In a letter issued by the state Revenue department to the DC Imphal West, the width of road NH 37 from Oriental College Langjing is to be 110 feet (33 metres) ROW, while from Langjing to Keithelmanbi (border of Imphal West) the width is to be 45 metres ROW.
Earlier, the district administration Imphal West notified ROW clearance for 24 metres only for the said highway according to an eviction order issues November 20, 2021 and this lack of clarity on the part of the state administration had been hindering the work progress of the highway.
Now, the state Revenue department has partially revised the ROW from 24 metres to 33 metres from Oriental College gate to Langjing. But, it is yet to fulfil the conditions laid down by the Centre.
State Works Minister Govindas Konthoujam, in a letter addressed to Union Highway Minister Minister Nitin Gadkari in a letter No 26/3/22(7)-M (Works & YAS), dated June 13, 2022 had raised the matter regarding the construction of RCC covered drain at the edge of ROW in connection with the ongoing works of two-lane with paved shoulders in the Imphal-Jiribam section of NH-37 (package-1) in the State of Manipur based on the complaint of two local MLAs S Kunjakeshore and Dr S Ranjan.
Union Minister Gadkari in his reply had stated that he had the matter examined and the construction of drain work at the edge of ROW was acquired by BRO long ago and for which, compensation was also released and disbursed by CALA to the land owner except for 68 pattadars.
He had also asked the state government to issue necessary directions to the concerned officer for arranging encumbrance free ROW (45.0m) which has already been acquired by the Central government, and expedite the early publication of notification in order to enable expeditious completion of the state.
However, it remains to be seen how the Centre would react to reduced width of ROW by the state for which money had already been sanctioned and released.
Meanwhile, NHIDCL has already begun trial run of metalling (DBM) of the Jiribam highway at Khumbong with a thickness of 90 mm grade 1 which will cover 40 mm Dense Bituminious macadam and Bituminious concrete.
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