In a hard hitting message, the Raphei Katamano Long (RKL) on Wednesday warned to shut NHIDCL office if the National Highway 202 which connects Ukhrul to Jessami block is not repaired within seven days.
The RKL, which is an apex students’ body of Raphei area in Manipur’s north of Ukhrul district, has expressed serious discontentment with prolonged delays in repairing the highway although populace and the body in unison have been appealing the concerned authority to look into their grievances.
The student body’s call for NHIDCL office closure came following repeated failure on the latter part to listen to the voice of the area people who have been facing numerous problems due to pathetic lifeline conditions.
RKL is one of the federating units of Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong, the apex Tangkhul community students’ body.
Recently the lifeline was closed following a truck accident causing immense hardships to commuters particularly young children who were stranded till late midnight and several were made to return back after a bumpy ride. Post this development the road was chock-a-block again in between Shirui and Phangrei due to mudslide caused by tropical cyclone remal. Added to these, scores of unreported incidents have taken place in this highway at the cost of the public.
The student body has demanded the NHIDCL to promptly repair the highway within seven days, a corporation mandated to repairs and ensure quality national highway, and has warned that it would be compelled to close its office if all the necessary resources and support are not allocated to expedite the repairing work within the given timeline.
It is imperative that repairing work is executed within seven days of further delay, it stated.
In the meanwhile coming down strongly on its failure to maintain quality road, the RKL in its letter addressed to the general manager, NHIDCL Ukhrul lambasted that the dilapidated conditions of the existing road has significantly disrupted the populace livelihood and hugely inconvenience people plying along this lifeline.
A statement issued by Worreisem Yangya, RKL vice president continued that its series of previous official communication to NHIDCL including the recent ones to streamline the problem faced by the populace fell on deaf ears.
It then urged the concerned corporation to ensure that decisive and prompt action is taken in the interests of the populace.
A copy of the letter was also sent to Khashim Vashum, minister of Transport, Veterinary & Animal Husbandry, also the incumbent MLA of Chingai AC; Ram Muivah, MLA Ukhrul AC, Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul, RO Imphal and Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong.
It is worth mentioning that with concerned authorities paying attention to the plight of the general public, some road stretches which required immediate attention along these lifeline were repaired under the banner of RKL with helping hands from concerned individuals and well wishers.
It may be mentioned that the Imphal Free Press had made a series of reports on the prevailing condition of NH 202 which connects Manipur’s neighbouring state Nagaland via Ukhrul to Jessami national highway.
To ensure hassle-free roads has been the long pending demands of the area people. The genuine demand made by the populace to address the pressing issue still remains to be addressed with patients, elderly and daily commuters facing the wrath of the near abandoned rugged road.
It’s a well known testament that the condition of the road remains poor throughout the year with potholes and crack-filled road found in all the major directions.
The already grim lifeline condition goes from bad to worse with the onset of monsoon with incessant showers causing massive landslides in several portions of the highway rendering it impossible for free flow of traffic movements. Given the background, it is not safe for commuters to ply as one has to risk it all to hit these rugged Raphei road or NH 202.
Only time will tell whether the voice of the people will have any takers and its long cries being heard.
