KAMJONG: Social activist Ashang Kasar and several civil society organisations have demanded urgent intervention from the state government on the reportedly dilapidated Ramva-Hongbei road. The activist also cautioned that they would take legal action if the concerned department does not intervene before Christmas.
The road was reportedly constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and connects Kamjong and Ukhrul districts with the state capital.
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Addressing the media persons during the inspection, Kasar demanded urgent intervention from the concerned authorities including the current Manipur government and the rural department. He was accompanied by the presidents of the Tangkhul Naga Valley Students’ Association and the Indigenous People’s Forum Manipur.
Expressing concern over the road’s deteriorating condition, Kasar accused the government of neglecting a crucial lifeline connecting Ukhrul and Kamjong districts to the state capital, Imphal. He said civil society organisations were currently maintaining the road through public contributions, in the absence of adequate government intervention.
He stated that despite the road serving as a lifeline for the two districts, the government has neglected the road with no proper competion and visible maintenance. He also reported that there is no alternative route connecting the districts with the state capital Imphal. Accusing the government of failing to ensure proper maintenance, he describe the neglect as an insult to the public.
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Further, the former convenor of Native People’s Committee Manipur warned the concerned department, its officials and contractors of legal consequences if the road’s condition remained unaddressed before Christmas. He also threatened measures, including a possible ban on the department’s operations in the districts.
It may be mentioned that the Hongbei–Ramva road serves as a vital link between Ukhrul and Kamjong districts and Imphal. Amid the ongoing communal conflict, the road has assumed added significance, reportedly remaining the only lifeline unaffected by the conflict and providing essential connectivity for residents of the two districts.