Imphal : More than 400 heavy machines and equipment deployed for rural road construction under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) were lost during the Manipur crisis that erupted on May 3, 2023, dealing a major blow to infrastructure development across the State’s hill districts.

Disclosing this on the sidelines of the silver jubilee celebrations of PMGSY, Chief Engineer of the Manipur State Rural Road Development Agency (MSRRDA), Kh Temba Singh, said a total of 423 machines and equipment belonging to contractors were destroyed or lost during the violence. “So far, no compensation has been paid to the affected contractors. The estimated cost of the lost machinery is around Rs 70-80 crore,” he said.

The loss has significantly impacted the pace of PMGSY works, particularly in the hill districts, where a large number of projects remain incomplete. Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts account for the highest number of pending works, with 55 projects yet to be completed. Tamenglong and Noney districts follow closely, with 44 pending works.

According to officials, 89 per cent of the pending works under PMGSY Phases I and II are located in the hill districts, while only 11 per cent pertain to the valley districts.

Reviewing the implementation of PMGSY in Manipur since its launch in December 2000, the Chief Engineer said the State has achieved 95 per cent habitation connectivity under the scheme. A total of 1,931 works, including construction of roads and bridges, have been completed at an estimated cost of Rs 4,780 crore, with the bulk of the projects executed during PMGSY Phase I (2000-2021).

PMGSY aims to provide all-weather rural road connectivity to unconnected habitations with a population of 250 or more, based on the 2011 Census, as part of a nationwide poverty reduction strategy.

Manipur Chief Secretary Dr Puneet Kumar Goel, Commissioner (Rural Development and Panchayati Raj) Sumant Singh, former chief engineers of MSRRDA, and senior engineers and staff were present at the programme.