Tourism Fest amid potholed roads If wishes were horses
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One wish that the PR administration had applied the same level of commitment, the resources and the willingness to go ahead with the Sangai Festival to the abysmal conditions of all the roads in Imphal. Quixotic it is that Raj Bhavan is intent on going ahead with a festival organised by the Tourism Department when the roads running through the length and breadth of Imphal are in total shambles. Spend the energy, the commitment and the resources meant for the Sangai Festival to repair the stretches that pass off as roads in Imphal. Not that this would have any impact on the PR administration, but this is a point which ought to be reminded to the people who call the shots in the administration, now. Not the first time that The Sangai Express is commenting on the pathetic state of the roads in Imphal and probably this wouldn’t be the last either. The Government may talk about the start of laying concrete pavements on some stretches of the roads in Imphal but these road stretches do not make and define the capital of Manipur. Best would be to take some of the suited, booted officials in the PR administration on a ride down the Wahengbam Leikai road and see if they enjoy the bumps and the grinds. Or the Nagamapal stretch of the road, especially beneath the BT Flyover near Cheirap Court. Or go northwards from the Khoyathong crossing towards the State Assembly for on the roads are written everything that is rotten with the administration in Manipur right now. It was with a reason why local people had come out and blocked Mayai Lambi against the failure of the Government to repair the roads not so long back. A ride down this road stretch right now shows that some of the gigantic potholes have been haphazardly filled up but this still does not make the stretch fit to be called a road and the bandh is set to return on November 22. In short, the priority of the PR administration or the Raj Bhavan should be clear. It is not the Sangai Festival that is important to the people right now, but to deal with the dust and potholes on all the roads, that is besides those surviving in the different relief centres. The road that takes one to RIMS from Nagamapal has thankfully been repaired, but how long did it take to make this road smooth ? It is when priorities are wrong that governance can take a big hit and this is what is happening to Manipur right now. The focus and energy of the Government should be on how to make life liveable for the average citizen of Imphal and this ten day show is not going to help in any way. This is where one is inclined to ask whether the Government this time would be in a position to give the footfalls at the venue of the Sangai festival, how much money was generated and how many outstation people came to visit the festival. Or is it going to be just an exercise of going one up against those who have opposed the plan to hold the festival ? Only the PR administration can answer this question, but Manipur is not blind to the fact that what is done at the moment is done so with blessings from New Delhi.
President’s Rule is not a representative Government and Raj Bhavan will not need to ask for vote after its time is up, but there is something called a legacy. It is up to the man who matter to decide whether Manipur will look back to the days of the PR stint with a sense of nostalgia, a recollection that at least the man from Delhi understood the local sentiments and was more than willing to respect it. This is what ultimately counts and for Delhi to take any decision it will need to rely on the feedbacks it receives from the men who matter in the administrative set up. This again is a point that is not lost on the people, for Manipur, with all its warts, is wise enough to understand how things pan out when Delhi is in charge of how the people live. It will reflect on how the people perceive the party at power in Delhi and this is precisely why The Sangai Express had questioned where the Manipur unit of the BJP stands on the question of holding the Sangai Festival. More importantly where do the office bearers and members of the State unit of the saffron party stand ? Valid questions these are and to come back to an earlier point raised here, Raj Bhavan should work out its priorities. Motorable roads are important.
President’s Rule is not a representative Government and Raj Bhavan will not need to ask for vote after its time is up, but there is something called a legacy. It is up to the man who matter to decide whether Manipur will look back to the days of the PR stint with a sense of nostalgia, a recollection that at least the man from Delhi understood the local sentiments and was more than willing to respect it. This is what ultimately counts and for Delhi to take any decision it will need to rely on the feedbacks it receives from the men who matter in the administrative set up. This again is a point that is not lost on the people, for Manipur, with all its warts, is wise enough to understand how things pan out when Delhi is in charge of how the people live. It will reflect on how the people perceive the party at power in Delhi and this is precisely why The Sangai Express had questioned where the Manipur unit of the BJP stands on the question of holding the Sangai Festival. More importantly where do the office bearers and members of the State unit of the saffron party stand ? Valid questions these are and to come back to an earlier point raised here, Raj Bhavan should work out its priorities. Motorable roads are important.