IMPHAL, April 10: President of Information and Hill Areas Manipur (ICHAM) has drawn the attention of the visiting defense minister of state, Pallam Raju towards the actual deplorable condition of the National Highway 37.
N Rajendro, president of ICHAM briefed mediapersons that the Border Roads Organization (BRO) has been highlighting fake accounts on development works stated to be taken up along the highway to the Union Ministry.
He stated that the BRO in a work progress notification to the Defense Minister AK Anthony on September 2011 stated that the highway work was carried out in full swing with a total strength of 1300 laborers and numerous machineries, the same was notified to the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh.
Rajendro alleged that, however on a work site visit carried out jointly be a media team and ICHAM members in September 2011, it was found that hardly 200/ 300 workers were carrying out the highway work and not as stated to the ministry by the BRO.
“Now, the honorable minister will have a first-hand account of the works implemented by the BRO and their work progress done on paper”, he stated that the tell-tale difference will be clearly evident.
Further, according to a meeting held with ICHAM members and commander of 765 Battalion of the BRO, the commandant had stated that the slow work progress was due to lack of stone quarries, non-cooperation from villagers and prevailing law and order conditions.
Rajendro charged that BRO has misled the government with their reports and there is no lack of stone quarries. “BRO pays Rs 5000 for each quarry and gets more than the bargained quantity.
He also added that if there was any lack of security to address the law and order problem, it was never notified to the concerned authorities, “he said.
In this effect, a memorandum was submitted to Palam Raju by ICHAM through MLA I Hemochandra this evening. The memorandum mentioned that the BRO was highlighting their work progress falsely and that the stipulated time of completion, i.e.2013 December will not be possible.
It was appealed to the Minister of State that a committee comprising of concerned ministers of the Union government and the state be formed to monitor the work progress along the highway on a monthly basis.
Further, state security should be deputed along the highway to safeguard the truckers and the general public as on earlier counts it was found that central para-military forces cannot curb the lawlessness perpetrated by certain elements.
It may be mentioned that ICHAM, a non-profit body has been continuously taking stock of the improvement works along the NH 53 (Imphal Jiribam Road).