IMPHAL, August 18: The state PWD has cautioned that no agency, social worker or organization, other than those assigned by the ministry or on its behalf, shall execute work on National highway 150 and NH-53 and all debris collected along the highways should be immediately removed failing which, the department will take the help of the law enforcing authorities to book offenders.
In this connection, an official notification was issued by the executive engineer NH-division-III, PWD, Manipur, in which it is informed that, of late it has been observed that many social workers as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations have been executing work along the two highways on their own will without obtaining prior approval of the concerned authority, which is against the decree laid down in Section 5 of the National Highways Act, 1956.
The official notification also mentioned that it has been observed that road side drains are being re-sectioned, pipe and cables laid and excavated earth dumped on the road side and commercial goods for sales stacked on the road side thereby reducing the effective roadway width causing danger and discomfort to the road users.
It is also mentioned that such action is punishable under Section 8B of the National Highway Act, 1956, wherein it sates “whoever commits mischief by doing any act which render or which he knows to be likely to render any National Highway referred to in sub-section (1) of Section 8B impassible or less safe for traveling or conveying property, shall be punished with imprisonment of either descriptions for a term which may extend to five years, or so with a fine or with both”, the official notification added.
