Newmai News Network
IMPHAL, January 5
Manipur BJP has on Tuesday demanded a formal probe into the alleged poor maintenance of quality in the construction of the three Ima markets in Khwairamband Keithel located in the heart of Imphal city.
A sizeable portion of the markets—walls and pillars-- developed cracks due to the powerful tremor measuring 6.8 on Richter Scales that struck the state on Monday at 4:35 am. According to latest reports, the number of injured victims has climbed to 106 and some 339 structures developed cracks due to the quake which flattened over 170 structures.
Twenty persons were injured in Assam due to the quake.Two teams of National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) are assisting the humanitarian effort in the earthquake devastated areas. A Central medical team is also assisting in medical treatment of the injured victims. Control rooms are also being kept opened. Army and Air Force are also joining the relief operations.
Addressing a press meet at the party office, Manipur BJP president Th Chaoba alleged the three buildings of Ima markets in Khwairamband Keithel were built without maintaining any quality and hence a formal investigation should be initiated against those who constructed them.
He said the extensive damage caused to the market buildings has clearly indicated these were of poor quality and hence the Central agencies like the CBI or NIA should be allowed to probe the construction. Chaoba demanded that the market structures should be demolished to construct new ones.
The Ima market buildings were constructed by Simplex Infrastructures Ltd and they were inaugurated by Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi in 2010. The market is entirely run by women.
Shortly after the earthquake hit the state, hundreds of women vendors protested at the market complex and condemned the government over the damage.
Keithel Phambi Apunba Lup and Manipur Keithel Nupi also demanded that the CBI or NIA should be allowed to investigate the alleged construction defects. Keithel Phambi Apunba Lup Mema alleged that Chief Minister O Ibobi was unwilling to solve the issue.
However, the Ima markets were constructed by National Building Construction Company Limited, according to Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar. He told the media the state PWD did not play any role in construction of the market buildings.
Addressing reporters here, he admitted that no quality was maintained in the construction of the markets. The minister said that the Union Cabinet Secretary has been informed about the alleged market construction defects and that three experts from IIT Roorkee are likely to visit the state on January 7 to inspect the current status of the women markets.
