IMPHAL, Feb 27: Thangmeiband MLA, Kh. Joykrishan quizzed Works Minister, Dr. Kh. Ratankumar Singh on the matter of Thangmeiband constituency being neglected in the road repair works the department has been undertaking in the Imphal area.
The MLA observed that while elsewhere, roads have been dug up to upgrade them, in Thangmeinband this has hardly been the case, and much or the roads dug up for the Sewerage Project remain unrepaired.
He questioned the minister if the PWD and CPWD are following any Works Manual and if so to table before the house a copy of it. He further asked if it was possible for the PWD to take up work which are not listed in the CPWD emergency work list, and therefore without proper sanction, in his Starred Question No. 348.
The Works minister in his reply said the State PWD follows the works manual of the CPWD and in this regard, furnished a copy of a notification by Th. Amalkumar Singh, under secretary (works) Government of Manipur, No. 52/10/2008-W, dated October 24, 2008.
He also clarified that the State PWD is empowered to take up work even though it is not listed in the CPWD urgent works list.
A heated exchange of words followed in which the Thangmeiband MLA questioned why if the PWD is empowered to take up these works, how have so many roads in his constituency been left unrepaired after being dug up.
The Minister replied that the roads have been dug up for the sewerage project but because the PHED has not deposited the required money with the Works department for repairing these roads they dug up, which is why the delay.