ADC polls after completion of delimitation: Letpao Haokip
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 17 2023:
As the state cabinet on Thursday has approved dates for holding elections to Urban Local Bodies and Gram Panchayats, the pending election to Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in the hill districts will also be held soon after the completion of delimitation, said Tribal Affairs and Hills minister Letpao Haokip.
Addressing a press meet at his Koirengei residence on Friday, Letpao Haokip said that people in the hill districts will definitely want to know the status of holding ADC elections, especially after the cabinet decision to conduct elections for ULBs and Panchayats.
Clearing the air of uncer tainty, he said that the government is making preparations to hold elections to ADCs as well.
However, delimita tion of ADCs is nearing completion and it will be published in the state gazette soon, he said.
Once the delimitation is completed, the government will give a deadline of about one week for claims and objections after which the government will propose tentative schedules to the Election Commission of India for approval.
Since it requires 45 days' time frame before the ECI issues election notification, the government is unable to declare an exact date for ADC election as of now, the minister clarified while assuring to conduct the election at the earliest possible time.
He informed that Asian Development Bank has sanctioned Rs 1660 crore for the Imphal Ring Road project and improvement of traffic junctions in Imphal city areas.
The cabinet has approved to float tender for the project.
At the same time, a fund of Rs 650 crore has been sanctioned for rejuvenation of Lamphelpat water body to alleviate urban flooding.
Under the project, Lamphel-pat will not only be restored as water body but also developed as an eco-tourism project with components like perimeter road and bridge with underpass route for boating.
Moreover, New Development Bank has sanctioned Rs 1255.84 crore for Imphal Sewerage Project Phase-II,\which was also approved during Thursday's cabinet sitting.
He further informed that at least 70 per cent of the roads and streets in Imphal city area will be upgraded into rigid pavement with concrete for which the government has received Rs 3303 crore fund.
The rigid pavement is expected to last at least seven decades and the cabinet approved execution of the project at the earliest.
Besides, JICA has sanctioned Rs 3000 crore for community based watershed development projects, he added.