New Delhi, July 02 2010: Manipur Chief Minster Okram Ibobi today drew the attention of the Union Minister of Development for North Eastern Region (DoNER), BK Handique for improvement of road and communication in the hill districts of the state.

He said that only when there was good connectivity of roads in the interior hill areas, there would not be physical distance among the different communities living in Manipur.

The Chief Minister, along with Works Minister K Ranjit and Deputy Chairman of State Planning Board, Bijoy Koijam met the Union Minister of DoNER at Vigyan Bhawan Annexe here at 4.30 pm today.

Apart from demanding timely release of the funds for various projects to be implemented in Manipur, the Chief Minister proposed re-construction of the Old Cachar Road connecting Imphal and Cachar district of Assam, for which he demanded earmarking sufficient funds from the Ministry.

During the meeting, the DoNER Minister informed about the updated status of four Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) projects referred by the Chief Minister of Manipur in his letter of 29 April this year.

In regard to the construction of RCC bridge over Imphal river at Mongkhang Lambi, the Minister disclosed that the NLCPR Committee at its 81st meeting held on May 26 this year had recommended sanctioning of the project at a cost of Rs 579.04 lakh.

The first instalment of admissible grant amounting to Rs 204.35 lakh was released on June 24 last.

As for construction of RCC bridge over Thoubal river at Thoubal Mathak Leikai, Kairambi, the Ministry informed that the first installment of admissible grant amounting to Rs.178.45 lakh out the recommended sanction of Rs.505.73 lakh was released on June 22 last.

For construction of bridge over Imphal river at Moirangkhom (Old Thumbuthong), the Ministry awaited the report from the Superintending Engineer, Technical Wing of DoNER whom the Detailed Project Report was forwarded on May 6 last for preliminary scrutiny.

For widening and improvement of road from Khongman Mangjil to Khongman Okram Chuthek in Imphal East District at the cost Rs.1163.20 lakh, the Superintending Engineer, Technical Wing, of DoNER was requested on April 21 last for site inspection and the report was awaited.

Later, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi with the Works Minister K Ranjit and Deputy Chairman of State Planning Board Bijoy Koijam met the Union Minister for Water Resources Pawan Kumar Bansal and urged for release of the additional funds towards the completion of the three major multi-purpose projects of Khuga, Thoubal and Dolaithabi in Manipur.

The Union Minister assured the Manipur Chief Minister and his ministerial team for immediate release of the additional funds for the projects.

Yesterday, the Manipur Chief Minister met the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Kamal Nath.