Pathetic state of alternate Imp-Ukl route Ashang Kasar warns of PIL

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 22: Social activist Ashang Kashar has warned that he would file a PIL if Itham Moirangpurel-Hongbei-Ramva road is not repaired before Christmas.
With Imphal-Ukhrul road via Litan rendered highly insecure by the ongoing violence in the hills, Itham Moirangpurel-Hongbei-Ramva road is a lifeline for the people of Ukhrul and Kamjong districts.
The road was constructed under PMGSY but its condition has now dilapidated to a deplorable level.
The road is covered with a thick layer of mud and slush during the rainy season while thick columns of dust envelop it during the dry season.
Making a direct assessment of the existing condition of the road today, social activist Ashang Kasar  said that the 50-Km long road from Napet to Ramva via Itham Moirangpurel and Ramva was constructed under PMGSY.
Following the outbreak of violence between Kukis and Nagas, Itham Moirangpurel-Hongbei-Ramva road has turned out to be a key link and lifeline for the people of both Ukhrul and Kamjong districts, Ashang Kasar said.
With Imphal-Ukhrul road via Litan no longer safe, a large number of people have been travelling on Itham Moirangpurel-Hongbei-Ramva road everyday even though the condition of the road is extremely bad, he said.
He expressed deep resentment against the Government’s failure to take proper care of the particular road.
Even though the road was constructed under PMGSY, no bitumen layer could be seen on many portions along the road, he said.
Moreover, there was no indication of any maintenance work ever done. As the road broke down so badly, local people and Tangkhul CSOs once repaired it at their own expense, Ashang Kasar said.
Even today, some CSOs  have been repairing the road to make it passable by using two excavators.
Pointing out that Itham Moirangpurel-Hongbei-Ramva road passes through many villages like Singta, Tangkhul Hundung, Marao and Singkap, Ashang Kasar said that construction of the road by completely compromising its quality was a result of the concerned RD & PR officials’ failure to supervise the road construction work properly.      
The road should be repaired at least to some level before the Christmas festival otherwise a PIL will be filed at Court, Ashang Kasar said.
Representatives of Tangkhul Naga Valley Students Association, Indigenous People Forum Manipur and Frontal CSOs Tangkhul were also present during the inspection tour.