Photo Courtesy: ukhrultimes
Imphal: The Lunghar Village Authority claims the Shirui Heritage Project is on the brink of disaster. Village leaders have petitioned the Chief Minister of Manipur to step in. They want the project back on track before funding lapses.
Trouble began with the tender process. The DRDA disqualified M/S Nongmaithem Enterprises for allegedly faking documents. The firm reportedly submitted false proof regarding work at the Senapati District Court. Yet, local MLA Ram Muivah pushed back against the project's progress. He sent multiple letters to the Governor and the Chief Minister asking for a fresh tender. The Village Authority says the MLA acted despite knowing the project schedule is tight.
Legal challenges have crippled work on the ground. Vaorei Awungshi, acting for the disqualified firm, launched lawsuits against the project. The High Court of Manipur eventually dismissed those cases. The Village Authority warned that persistent lawsuits and RTI filings are merely traps for progress. They claim these tactics exist only to freeze funds for private gains.
“The RTI Act is meant to promote transparency, but here it is being weaponized to fuel court cases and derail the project,” the Village Authority stated. The group insists the project serves three villages, including Shirui and Jorcheng. They want an end to the harassment of contractors and engineers. Village leaders argue the project will be a tourism milestone if the government ignores the obstructionists and finishes the job.
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