Multi-storey market complex at Moreh
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 03 2011:
Looking towards boosting the Indo-Myanmar trade activity in Moreh, Commerce and Industries minister, Y Erabot today laid the foundation stone for construction of a multi storey market complex at Moreh town parking today.
MLA, N Mangi, chairman of MANIDCO also attended the function.
The market complex is to be contructed at a cost of ' 21.5 crore and the fund will be shared on a 90:10 ration between the Centre and the state.
The Centre will provide the fund from its Assistance to State for Infrastructure Development for Exports.
The authority is targeting to complete the construction within a year, that is, by March 2012, according to officials of MANIDCO, the implementing agency of the construction.
With the objective of completing the construction within the targeted period and to avoid any disturbances in the construction work, minister, Y Erabot held a consultation meeting with people of different communities residing in the border town yesterday, before the foundation stone was laid.
The meeting held at Moreh Trade Centre was attended by representatives of the Meetei Council Moreh, Hill Tribal Council (HTC) and Tamil Sangram.
After the meeting HTC leaders mooted of constituting a committee comprising representatives of all communities residing in the town to oversee the construction.
The three major bodies in the town assured that they will extend full corporation to meet the target of the construction.
They also suggested for inclusion of a cinema hall as a component of the multi-storey market complex.
Addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone, minister Y Erabot said that installation of a multi-storey market in the town was a long pending plan of the government.
He also stressed the need for such a building in the expansion of Indo-Myanmar trade activities.
The Centre had also sanctioned for the construction of the complex knowing its importance in the expanding cross border trade, Erabot said reiterating his appeal to the people to extend corporation for a timely completion of the complex.
The minister further asserted that the international trade at Moreh is expanding and said that the trade items which were only 18 at the initial stage have been increased to 40 items.
The trade activities of these items is mostly done at Namphalong market on the Myanmar side of the border as there was no such compact market shed on the Indian side at Moreh, he said.
The market complex will have five storeys and each storey will have a traditional design so as to attract tourists, he said urging the people to suggest designs they wanted for each storey.
MANIDCO chairman, MLA N Mangi, speaking on the occasion, observed Moreh town where different communities of the state are settled is the best place for cross border trade.
The town can be developed as a gateway of India if the people cooperate with government plans to develop the town.
For the Centre and the state governments, there is a clear cut policy to develop the town as a gateway of India, he went on to speak elaborately on the development works of the Integrated Check Post, Moreh Trade Centre for which MANIDCO is the implementing agency.
He also assured that MANIDCO will not leave any stone unturned in the effort to complete the construction of the multi-storey building within the targeted period.
Principal Secretary (Commerce & Industries), O Nabakishore also attended the foundation stone lying ceremony in which some officials of the Myanmar government also took part.