Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 31 2010:
Stating that repairing work of NH-39 has begun since yesterday with fund available with the State Government, Works Minister K Ranjit has appealed to the Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA) to call of the ongoing highway bandh.
Speaking as chief guest in the annual convention of the Mayang Imphal Kendra Congress Committee at Khuman Stadium, Mayang Imphal Konchak today, Ranjit said that the Government of India has sanctioned Rs 50 crores to develop Maram-Senapati section of NH-39 .
However, no local contractor was found qualified till the pre-qualification tender process.
As it would have taken some time to complete the tender process, the State Government engaged ten local contractors to start repairing the highway with fund at its disposal.
Together with 100 metric tonnes of bitumen, rollers, earth-moving machines like JCBs and other necessary machinery have been sent to start the highway repairing work.
The Works Minister also appealed to the SDSA to help avoid abduction of machinery drivers/operators and engineers.
Ranjit went to claim that no Chief Minister had ever taken birth in Manipur who is so much concerned with welfare of Muslim minority and hill districts like Okram Ibobi.
Almost 50 per cent of the population of Manipur lack sound judgement regarding whom they should vote for.
That is why, Manipur is going through a chaotic phase.
In case, the State continues to reel under the prevailing situation any longer, it would not be long before Manipur falls into an unfathomable nadir, he cautioned.
With the coming of the UPA Government at the Centre, the State could overcome a major financial crisis where the Government could not even pay pensions and salaries.
And eventually, a new light of development dawned upon Manipur after the Centre converted deficit funds into soft loan.
Saying that democracy has regained its meaning in Manipur, Ranjit claimed that the question of disintegration of Manipur has disappeared except for some voices raised by a few hill based armed groups.
Should the hills and valley remain united, one need to go to hills.
Impressive rhetoric made at Kangla would not help much, he stated.
Addressing the convention, Education Minister L Jayantakumar said that people should be made of the programmes and project taken up and being taken up by the SPF Government.
A comparative analysis of the works done by the previous Governments and SPF Government would clearly tell which party works more for the people.
Asserting that equitable development needs development of mental status to a comparable level, Jayantakumar said that classes have commenced in Indira Gandhi National Tribal University at Makhan village.
IFC and YAS Minister N Biren remarked that communal elements in the politics of Manipur ignited unwanted incidents between Meiteis and Meitei Pangals and among Kukis.
Remarking that the people of Ukhrul were so much overwhelmed with joy when Chief Minister O Ibobi visited Ukhrul recently that they carried the Chief Minister to different places, Biren alleged that politicians played divisive politics among the people.
Chairman of Manipur Pollution Control Board E Dwijamani, MPCC general secretary Bidyapati Senjam, MLA M Prithiviraj, former Deputy CM Manitombi and Congress workers of Mayang Imphal A/C attended the convention.
The convention was jointly organised by the Mayang Imphal Block Congress Committee, Youth Congress Committee, Mahila Congress Committee, NSUI and the Mayang Imphal Kendra Self-Help Group Co-ordinating Committee.
The convention was also attended by a number of Congress workers of the Assembly constituency.