The Civil Society Organization (CSO) of Mangkolemba has put a stop to all construction work on the Longnak-Mangkolemba road upgradation project due to unresolved issues that have yet to be addressed by the contractor and concerned government departments. The CSO began its agitation on March 21, 2025, and has made it clear that the suspension will continue until the concerns are properly resolved.
What Are the key issues?
One of the primary issues raised by the CSO is the obstruction posed by electric poles and other utilities in the middle of the under-construction road. These structures not only create a safety hazard but also affect the overall quality of the road. Despite multiple discussions and reminders from the CSO, the authorities have failed to address the problem, even though they had previously assured the CSO that the issue would be handled.
The March 22 meeting
On March 22, 2025, the CSO convened a meeting at Mangko Ward Junction with key stakeholders, including the contractors, the Executive Engineer of PWD (R&B) Mangkolemba, and the SDO of the Department of Power (Longnak Substation). Representatives from the local administration and Mangkolemba Town Council were also present.
During the meeting, government representatives raised concerns about the reimbursement process for the removal of the electric poles, citing government “standing orders” as a reason for the delay. However, the CSO strongly countered this argument, questioning why these issues were not addressed earlier, considering the project has been ongoing for years, and the authorities had received numerous reminders and assurances from the CSO.
What does the CSO want?
The CSO has issued a one-week deadline for the contractor and the concerned departments to resolve the issue. Until then, all road construction work will remain suspended. The CSO is urging the authorities to act swiftly and remove the obstructions to ensure the project can move forward efficiently and safely.
The CSO has made it clear that no construction work, including black-topping, will be allowed until all obstacles are cleared. They have emphasized that the authorities had years to address these issues and that it is unacceptable to allow the project to proceed with obstructions still in place, especially as it nears completion.