Nothing is improving in the state of Manipur. When the people across the globe are talking about clean environment, good governance and better development infrastructures, the state still saw thousand dumping garbage and waste materials at the Nambul River which runs in the middle of the Imphal City. The roads are no better and the infrastructures constructed remain wasted materials. The best example can be seen when one go to the Inter –State Bus terminus constructed and inaugurated by the chairperson of the UPA alliance Mrs Sonia Gandhi near Khuman Lampak main stadium. “Save Nambul River” was the much talk topic of the onetime government which still continues to hold power in the state and with much enthusiasm retaining wall was seen constructed at each bank of the River at the main city area. The purpose of constructing the retaining walls by spending huge amount of fund was initially taken up to keep the River clean, but to those who sees this portion of River every single day the same portion of River is still a big Garbage dumping ground. And no government authority of today had ever taken up some stringent law of sustainable measures to keep this river clean.
On the other hand, economic blockade, bandh and general strike are the few words that have been haunting the government almost every year creating inconveniences to the general public most of the time. Some concern citizens had taken up the matters and file suit to the highest court of the country and an order to take stringent action against any organisation which called or sponsored economic blockade cannot be treated according to the directives of the highest court of the country. Yet, the Home Minister of the state was quoted by media saying words which showed serious concerns to the blockade called.
If one recalled it was the peoples’ choice to bring back the congress government in the state with Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh as the leader after the famous June 18 incident of 2001. Understanding the sentiment of the people the then CM which still continues to hold the post had even declared the day as state holiday. But the decision was soon revoked after section of people protested it calling over 52 days of economic blockade at both the National Highways. The very fact is that blockade along the National Highways is effective and some civil society organisation still uses it as an instrument to put up its demand.
There is something seriously wrong in the government. Each and every one of us knows that the rules and law of the land is good enough to keep the environment clean or to run a smooth corruption less government. Only thing that is matter is the integrity of a committed leader which is competent enough to rectify all laws and regulations. People have waited, and some are still waiting for a true leader which will take us all to a bright future. Is this “wait” going to be another Godot of Samuel Beckett?
