Lethal touch to the roads in Imphal Revolting indifference
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The indifference is revolting. Comes close to the understanding of telling the people to take a hike, never mind that the indifference can claim human lives. If it is not about waving the people aside, so that the suited, booted class who come under the tag of VIP or VVIP can move around freely, it is about digging up one part of the road and leaving it as it is, all in the name of some ‘developmental’ works being taken up. Pompous, crude, uncouth are the words that come to mind, all indications that the people who are in positions of power have come under the impression that they can throw their weight around and in the process make the mess that is Imphal today. The unwritten but standard SOP that reigns the streets and roads of Imphal today is, ‘Once the road is repaired and black topped, then let loose the diggers complete with JCBs and other state of the art digging tools and dig up the freshly black topped road to lay a pipe or two for anything.’ Seems to be a design at work, a design that reeks of a sinister plot to pave the way for more ‘contract works’ in the coming days for the dug up roads will obviously need to be filled up, smoothened and black topped again. A design that can also be worked out by just looking at the water meter that has been installed at the households which have water connection. More than two years since the water meter was installed or fitted, but yet consumers continue to pay a lump sum of Rs 250 per month, no matter the amount of water that a family may use. Why hasn’t the mechanism been put in place to put the water meter into use and accordingly charge each consumer according to the meter reading ? The water meter has been installed but it has not been activated and when the time comes to activate, will this entail a fresh process of supply and contract works ? Only the officers at the Water Resources Department can answer this, but it stands that the online payment for the water bill is still dicey. That this should happen at this time of digital age and online payment is simply astounding. Perhaps a feat which only the Water Resources Department has been able to work out. These are but some examples cited here, just to remind how the people are still deprived of the basics of life. A stage when the world is moving at a hectic pace and everything is online, from getting one’s child registered for admission, to sitting for an entrance/competitive exami- nation to paying the electricity bill. This is the reality but here in Manipur, people have to still cope with a Government and its departments which unfailingly always manage to leave any work half done and in the process expose the lives of the common people to uncertainty.
A few days back The Sangai Express carried a news story on how manholes were left way above the level of the road jeopardising the smooth movement of pedes- trians, cyclists and those moving in cars. It is not clear which department is particularly responsible for leaving such ‘death traps’ plum in the middle of the road, but this has now been extended to the cement concrete roads which have come up at some stretches of the roads in Imphal. As reported, the rigid pavement is narrower and is higher by at least six inches than the earlier road surface. And narrower means that the concrete cement road comes to an abrupt end by the side, six inches above the ground. A picture of the cement concrete road carried by The Sangai Express on its December 15 issue underlined the danger posed to the motorists, especially at night. A point which was briefly touched upon in an earlier commentary here, but it is obvious that the department or implementing agency has not taken note of the dangers posed to the movement of the people. The danger is all that more so in the night and with most of the roads in Imphal poorly lit, one can work out the hazards posed to the people. It should not be asking too much of the Government to at least do something such as putting up reflectors by the sides of the road, especially at night, or put up some sign boards to tell the motorists that they should not go too close of the edge of the cement concrete road. Or is this asking for too much ?
A few days back The Sangai Express carried a news story on how manholes were left way above the level of the road jeopardising the smooth movement of pedes- trians, cyclists and those moving in cars. It is not clear which department is particularly responsible for leaving such ‘death traps’ plum in the middle of the road, but this has now been extended to the cement concrete roads which have come up at some stretches of the roads in Imphal. As reported, the rigid pavement is narrower and is higher by at least six inches than the earlier road surface. And narrower means that the concrete cement road comes to an abrupt end by the side, six inches above the ground. A picture of the cement concrete road carried by The Sangai Express on its December 15 issue underlined the danger posed to the motorists, especially at night. A point which was briefly touched upon in an earlier commentary here, but it is obvious that the department or implementing agency has not taken note of the dangers posed to the movement of the people. The danger is all that more so in the night and with most of the roads in Imphal poorly lit, one can work out the hazards posed to the people. It should not be asking too much of the Government to at least do something such as putting up reflectors by the sides of the road, especially at night, or put up some sign boards to tell the motorists that they should not go too close of the edge of the cement concrete road. Or is this asking for too much ?