Leader writer/ Jagjit T
Going by its steadily deteriorating infrastructure, Imphal could well be called a dying city. Crumbling roads, clogged drains, a non-existent waste management infrastructure that has led to the already overburdened and congested roads being used as garbage dumps, spotty and uncertain delivery of basic utilities such as power and drinking water, chaotic public transportation system, the list could go on. All of this, against a backdrop of an ever increasing population and continuing unplanned growth, make the lives of the denizens of this not-so fair city a daily trial. Presiding over all of this is a powerless and more or less non-functional municipal body, while the state government, enamoured as it is with high profile and funding-intensive projects, seems not to have reaslised that even with the existing infrastructure, regular maintenance and upkeep can make the lives of Imphalites a whole lot easier. To take the recent floods as an instance, it has been seen that even after river water levels returned to normal, heavy water logging persisted for days in many areas of the eastern part of Imphal. This was primarily because, with the generally poor drainage network in the area, the accumulated flood water had nowhere to go. This, significantly, wasn’t the case in most areas in the western half of the city, which in any case escaped serious flooding, thanks mostly to the fact that the drainage network here, including natural drainages like the Waisel Maril, had been cleaned up a couple of years back. It is also noticed that the concerned authorities, presumably wiser after the event, have begun cleaning up drains in areas such as Wangkhei in the last couple of days,. One is inclined to think that this is somewhat like locking the stable doors after the horse has bolted, but nevertheless the step is welcome, since it would doubtlessly make the next floods a little more endurable.
Speaking of infrastructural lacunae, the horrible condition of the roads in Imphal have made commuting a task that is inconvenient at best, and a nightmare at worst. With concerned engineers maintaining a sporadic and haphazard maintenance schedule that is a mystery to all save themselves, cracked blacktopping and unfilled potholes have become a common sight even on major thoroughfares such as the Airport road, Kanglapark and the Sanjenthong bridge to Nityapat Chuthek, even though these are frequented by top bureaucrats and elected representatives of the land. Most other roads, particularly in the outlying areas of the city, may best be described as dirt tracks. But worse off than these are the roads in what should properly be the heart of the city - its commercial district. No other city in the world, we imagine, would leave the streets its chief commercial areas in the condition that the roads of downtown Imphal are in. The Thangal Bazar road, at places like the PC Jain corner, for instance, resembles nothing as much as a village street in one of the interior districts. Shoppers frequenting the area are constantly forced to endure dirt and mud and slush, and the ugly and noxious piles of garbage piled nearly do nothing to improve the picture. The entire MG Avenue area, particularly the stretch in front of the State Bank of India, (an area which probably sees the highest load of vehicular traffic on any day) is if anything, worse condition, and most sections of the Dharamsala road, Allu Galli and Paona Bazar are no better off. State PWD minister K Ranjit has given us the impression of a man of action. His frequent trips to the hill districts for inspection of roads and other infrastructure work taken up by its department, and the prompt action he has taken in pulling up concerned officials whose work is not up to the mark have come as a breath of fresh air. However, he seems to have missed out on what is going wrong within Imphal. We would suggest, therefore, that the next trip he makes, he should rope in his good friend the state MAHUD minister and take a tour of Imphal city area itself, particularly the bazar area, and see for himself what conditions are like, if he has not before. We would also presume to suggest, if any one deserves action taken against them for negligence and misfeasance in performing their duties, it is the engineers who are responsible for maintenance and upkeep of the city’s roads, and the contractors who have refused to perform their assigned works.
The Imphal Free Press Editorial
Going by its steadily deteriorating infrastructure, Imphal could well be called a dying city. Crumbling roads, clogged drains, a non-existent waste management infrastructure that has led to the already overburdened and congested roads being used as garbage dumps, spotty and uncertain delivery of basic utilities such as power and drinking water, chaotic public transportation system, the list could go on. All of this, against a backdrop of an ever increasing population and continuing unplanned growth, make the lives of the denizens of this not-so fair city a daily trial. Presiding over all of this is a powerless and more or less non-functional municipal body, while the state government, enamoured as it is with high profile and funding-intensive projects, seems not to have reaslised that even with the existing infrastructure, regular maintenance and upkeep can make the lives of Imphalites a whole lot easier. To take the recent floods as an instance, it has been seen that even after river water levels returned to normal, heavy water logging persisted for days in many areas of the eastern part of Imphal. This was primarily because, with the generally poor drainage network in the area, the accumulated flood water had nowhere to go. This, significantly, wasn’t the case in most areas in the western half of the city, which in any case escaped serious flooding, thanks mostly to the fact that the drainage network here, including natural drainages like the Waisel Maril, had been cleaned up a couple of years back. It is also noticed that the concerned authorities, presumably wiser after the event, have begun cleaning up drains in areas such as Wangkhei in the last couple of days,. One is inclined to think that this is somewhat like locking the stable doors after the horse has bolted, but nevertheless the step is welcome, since it would doubtlessly make the next floods a little more endurable.
Speaking of infrastructural lacunae, the horrible condition of the roads in Imphal have made commuting a task that is inconvenient at best, and a nightmare at worst. With concerned engineers maintaining a sporadic and haphazard maintenance schedule that is a mystery to all save themselves, cracked blacktopping and unfilled potholes have become a common sight even on major thoroughfares such as the Airport road, Kanglapark and the Sanjenthong bridge to Nityapat Chuthek, even though these are frequented by top bureaucrats and elected representatives of the land. Most other roads, particularly in the outlying areas of the city, may best be described as dirt tracks. But worse off than these are the roads in what should properly be the heart of the city - its commercial district. No other city in the world, we imagine, would leave the streets its chief commercial areas in the condition that the roads of downtown Imphal are in. The Thangal Bazar road, at places like the PC Jain corner, for instance, resembles nothing as much as a village street in one of the interior districts. Shoppers frequenting the area are constantly forced to endure dirt and mud and slush, and the ugly and noxious piles of garbage piled nearly do nothing to improve the picture. The entire MG Avenue area, particularly the stretch in front of the State Bank of India, (an area which probably sees the highest load of vehicular traffic on any day) is if anything, worse condition, and most sections of the Dharamsala road, Allu Galli and Paona Bazar are no better off. State PWD minister K Ranjit has given us the impression of a man of action. His frequent trips to the hill districts for inspection of roads and other infrastructure work taken up by its department, and the prompt action he has taken in pulling up concerned officials whose work is not up to the mark have come as a breath of fresh air. However, he seems to have missed out on what is going wrong within Imphal. We would suggest, therefore, that the next trip he makes, he should rope in his good friend the state MAHUD minister and take a tour of Imphal city area itself, particularly the bazar area, and see for himself what conditions are like, if he has not before. We would also presume to suggest, if any one deserves action taken against them for negligence and misfeasance in performing their duties, it is the engineers who are responsible for maintenance and upkeep of the city’s roads, and the contractors who have refused to perform their assigned works.
The Imphal Free Press Editorial
