Suspension bridge over Loktak proposed
Rs 1,450 cr to be sanctioned for development of IVRs: Jairam
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 10 2012: Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Jairam Ramesh has assured that an amount of Rs 1450 crores would be sanctioned for development of Inter Village Roads (IVRs) in Manipur.

Addressing media persons at the conference hall of Imphal Secretariat today, Jairam Ramesh informed that under PMGSY, village roads of around 1004 villages would be constructed.

As of now, 245 villages have been connected with IVRs under PMGSY and funds have already been sanctioned for construction of roads in the remaining 450 villages.

The Union Minister further informed that an amount of Rs 670 crores has been sanctioned for the fiscal year 2012-13 for construction of IVRs under PMGSY and process is underway for sanctioning another Rs780 crores for the year 2013-14 .

During these two financial years, a total of Rs 1450 crores would be sanctioned for construction of IVRs.

Noting every bill sanctioned under PMGSY for the state is examined at Silchar where the State Technical Agency is situated and then sent to Delhi for acceptance, the Union Minister assured that to avoid this lengthy process, he would approve NIT Manipur located at Takyelpat as the State Technical Agency.

Union Minister Jairam Ramesh addressing a press meet at the hall of Secretariat

For this the required staffs would also be appointed.

Apart from this, the required staffs in the Manipur Rural Road Development Agency would also be looked into.

The Union Minister complimented Manipur for being at the top in the country in connection with implementation of MGNREGS and said that eighty days of working day is implemented in the state whereas in the other parts of the country it is only 45 days.

Stating that he would send a special team to study the outstanding achievement of Manipur in the field of MGNREGS, the Union Minister promised to sanction an amount of Rs 950 crores this year as against Rs 550 crores last year.

He also appealed to all job card holders who have not yet opened their bank accounts to open their own accounts at the earliest possible as the wages under MGNREGS would be dispending only through the respective bank accounts of the job card holders.

Furthermore, the Union Minister assured another amount of Rs 650 crores would be sanctioned for smooth running of water supply as requested by PHED Minister I Hemochandra, and appealed to the concerned authority to take up the sanitation programme seriously so as to make Manipur at par with states like Sikkim and Kerela in the next 5 years.

He also showed concern over difficulties faced by Self Help Groups for woman in the state and noted that out of 60 blocks, only 30 blocks have bank branches and 16 have internet banking facility.

To ensure further assistance in this regard, he promised to provide internet banking facility and open bank branches in every block.

Francis Ngajokpa, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, who was also present during the press conference, disclosed that he has had pressed the Union Minister for the construction of a 200 metre long suspension bridge over the Loktak Lake.

PHED Minister I Hemochandra and Rishang Keishing, MP, Rajya Sabha were also present at the press conference.