Minphong Konyak
Mon | April 14
Mon yet again plunged into a precarious situation with one of the bridges near 37th Assam Rifles check-gate collapsing on April 12, blocking all vehicular movement. The state highway 37, the lifeline of Mon district from Tizit to Mon has about 5 suspension bridges constructed during the NEFA times (1955-56). They are precariously being used since there are no alternatives, otherwise they have gone past he time to be declared as antiques and left alone. Every now and then one of these bridges breaks down creating inconveniences and effecting price rise in essential commodities in Mon.
Last month during the KSU sports meet, the aged iron girders and wooden planks of one of the bridges collapsed under weight that left a half of the bridge hollow. Luckily, no vehicle plunged down due to the intervention of the 37th Tizit AR. The post commander himself along with his brave jawans stood duty round the clock controlling the incoming traffic. However, determined drivers used another off-way, crossing the river at their risk but where they had to pay Rs 100-200 to the local land owner. Hundreds of carrier trucks and light vehicles littered the road near the broken bridge, hiking price of essential commodities in Mon, immediately.
According to official records, these bridges were built during the 60s when traffic was very limited but now hundreds of vehicles carrying tons and tons of loads ply everyday. Till now only the wooden planks have been damaged and repaired but the longevity of the 50 years old iron framers of the bridges is in question. They may break down any time.
This time, due to the pressure of the KSU and the KU, the bridge was haphazardly repaired within two days but it was beyond doubt that one of the bridges would break down again in the near future. And it happened again. All feel that all these antique bridges must be discarded and concrete bridges built in their places before it is too late otherwise a major breakdown will sever Mon’s lifeline and cause another form of economic blockade. But these vintage bridges still stand. The KU in its general meeting on April 14, adopted resolution for construction of these vintages as main priority.
In the latest collapse, the same day, a large landslide at a stone quarry (Yaling) below Mon village blocked the road to Mon. Movement of vehicles was closed but the district administration along with the PWD cleared the way. Movement has been made possible since yesterday.
However, it is surprising to see that while lots of private and public developments are going on around Mon, the one and only route is left discarded. Besides Wakching’s, this route is the lifeline of the eight constituencies of Mon which, if left unaddressed, will invite disaster in the near future.
Morung Express News
