The All Hunphun Tang Association (AHTA) and Hunphun Katamnao Long (HKL) inspected the ongoing construction of Academic Block, 100 Bedded Boys Hostel and 100 Bedded Girls Hostel of Pettigrew College, Ukhrul on Thursday and has appealed to the Governor of Manipur for necessary intervention.
President of All Hunphun Tang Association (AHTA), Chonmi Raleng stated that, “Pettigrew College is the lone government college in Ukhrul District, the work order for the construction of Academic Block and Main Gate at Pettigrew College was issued in 2021 and was supposed to complete in 2023. However, the said work is yet to be completed. We have also entered an MoU with the contractor stating that the work will be completed in March 2025. Even that has not materialised. Again during the DISHA meeting held at Ukhrul Headquarters on 14 July 2025, the Executive Engineer of MOBEDS has given an assurance that the work will be completed in the month of August 2025. The tiles work, ceiling work, painting works and toilets etc are yet to be completed. We urged the Governor of Manipur to immediately intervene so that the said work is completed in time.”
At present there are 1118 students enrolled in the college. Classes are being conducted in the unfinished building due to lack of classroom.
The team also inspected the construction of the boys hostel and girls hostel. The construction workers have started electrification works at the boys hostel without plastering the ceiling and wall. The AHTA and HKL have directed the workers to first plaster the wall and ceiling and then carry out the electrification work. Water leakage on the roof of the boys hostel was also observed and the visiting team has strongly questioned the poor quality and nature of the work.
Interacting with the media person, Principal of Pettigrew College, Dr. Ringkahao Horam stated that “there is a shortage of teachers, but we are trying our best to run the college in full swing. Regarding the classroom infrastructure, the government has provided for construction of a new building, unfortunately it is still yet to be completed. So there is a classroom problem, we have appraised the contractor several times, but it is yet to be completed. Since we have so many students and there is a shortage of classrooms, we have started conducting classes in the new incomplete building.”
“Since the college is situated a bit far from the main town, the hostel is very important for the students because students cannot afford to come everyday to college spending huge amounts of money in transport particularly taxi fare. At present, 140 of them are staying at the old hostels (boys and girls). The government is kind enough to start building one girls hostel and one boys hostel for the college, but is yet to be completed. The quality of the construction of the boys hostel is not satisfactory and the work progress is also very slow. I urged the authority to complete the girls and boys hostels in time, so that the students will have the opportunity to stay in the hostel which will minimise their expenditure and be more convenient” added Dr. Ringkahao Horam.
Construction of Academic Block and Main Gate at Pettigrew College, Ukhrul was awarded to one Y Sunil Singh of Keishamthong Thangjam Leirak, Imphal West on December 4, 2021 by the Manipur Minorities And OBC Economic Development Society (MOBEDS), an autonomous body under the Department of MA/OBC & SC, Government of Manipur at an estimated cost of Rs 14, 98,15, 250/(Fourteen Crore Ninety Eight Lakh Fifteen Thousand Two Hundred and Fifty). The work had to be completed within 18 months.
The Academic Block will consist of 9 rooms on the ground floor and 10 rooms on the first floor. It will have 2 lecture theatre rooms and 4 seminar halls. The building will have A Block, B Block and C Block (Southern) and B Block and C Block (Northern).
Infrastructure Development Of Pettigrew College at Ukhrul District -Construction Of 100 Bedded Boys Hostel was also awarded with a tender value of Rs. 7.14 Crore and construction of 100 Bedded Girls Hostel with the same tender amount was awarded to another contractor.
Pettigrew College is the only NAAC Accredited College in the District of Ukhrul. It is also the only college with a 4 year course on BA & BSC under NEP. Out of 70 colleges in Manipur, 10 were selected and Pettigrew College is one of them for undergoing a 4 year course in Manipur.
The administration of Pettigrew College is providing free transport to 30 deserving students based on the fulfilment of terms and conditions as provided by the college administration.
Pettigrew College was established in 1965. It was run as a private college for 12 years and was finally taken over by the Government of Manipur in 1977.
