Ratan assures Jiri dist status, JDDC threatens stir
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 07 2013: Even though Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar Singh stated that the newly constructed office complex of Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Jiribam sub-division, inaugurated today at Jiri Chingdong Leikai, is a component of infrastructure development to upgrade Jiribam to a district, Jiribam District Demand Committee (JDDC) cautioned that it would resume agitation in case Government of Manipur fails to implement the 11-point memorandum of under-standing within this month.

Inaugurating the ADC office complex constructed under the State's Public Works Department, Dr Ratankumar said that infrastructure development is not only inevitable for the Government of Manipur to effectively implement various development works but would also facilitate Jiribam to become a full-fledged revenue district.

Highlighting adequate office infrastructure at suitable location and cooperation of the general public as essential elements for effective administration, Dr Ratankumar, who also holds the Transport portfolio, conveyed that Government of Manipur has been according top priority in the development of Jiribam as the sub-division is one of the important locations of Manipur.

Dr Ratankumar inaugurating the ADC office

Assuring that demand of the sub-divisional people for upgrading Jiribam to a full-fledged revenue district would be highlighted to the Government and will personally take up the issue with both the chief Minister o ibobi Singh and Jiribam representative Th Debendra, who is also Forest, Revenue and Law Minister, he also called upon the people to closely monitor development works in the sub-division as to ensure that construction agencies/contractors do not compromise work quality.

The Minister, however, expressed that positive suggestions rather than unnecessary interventions would be more helpful for Jiribam to progress towards development.

Apart from the Works Minister, Jiribam ADC Y iboyaima and Thangmeiband AC MLA Kh Joykisan also graced the simple inauguration function as the functional president and guest of honour respectively.

The ADC complex is said to have been constructed under the Special Plan Assistance of the 12th finance Commission with a total project amount of Rs 11.01 crore.

Delivering the presidential address, ADC Y Iboyaima construed that inauguration of the complex is a testimony that the demand for district status to Jiribam would be a reality.

The fact that it is being called ADC office complex is only a temporary reference as the existing infrastructures are adequate enough to function as the DC office once the district status is accorded by the Government, he maintained.

Iboyaima also drew the attention of the Works Minister for constructing a welcome gate on the Manipur-Assam border at Jiribam.

Later, the Works Minister also inaugurated a PWD Guest house at Jiribam Babupara.

Noting public complaint against the working style of Border Roads Organisation on the Imphal-Jiribam section of NH-37 (53) Dr Ratankumar conveyed that the issue had already been highlighted at the meeting of NE Works Minister held recently at Guwahati.

The Minister further informed that he would personally assess progress of road development/repairing work to ensure smooth conduct of the upcoming ASEAN Car Rally.

Later he inspected the condition of JT Road.

Even as the Minister and his team were busy inaugurating the newly constructed structures, representatives of JDDC told newspersons that they are prepared to launch agitation in pursuit of demand for upgrading Jiribam to a full-fledged revenue district.

Strongly condemning the Government of Manipur for allegedly delaying implementation of the 11-point MoU signed with the State on the said demand, the Committee cautioned that mere insistence that the district demand issue has been handed over to district reorganisation & police boundary Committee or attempt to undermine the Committee's demand through infrastructure development initiatives would have no bearing on the Committee's determination to gain district-status recognition.

Insisting that the Government do the needful for translating/implementing the 11-point MoU within this month, the Committee functionaries asserted that agitation would be re-launched from March in case there is any further delay.