Manipur needs capable leader: Rameshwar
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 29 2024: BJP MLA and PDA Chairman Lourembam Rameshwar has stated that Manipur needs a new and capable leader who can win the trust of all communities and lead the MLAs in order to bring an end to the Manipur crisis.

Speaking at the inaugural function of a Primary Health Sub-Centre (PHSC) building constructed by PDA with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund of HUDCO Limited at Arapti Mayai Leikai today, Rameshwar expressed strong disapproval against inconsistency between what one speaks and what one does.

"There must be sincerity.

Pursuing thieves in the South while the thieves fled to the North is unacceptable", he said.

Admitting people's observation that MLAs and Ministers cannot come together even when Manipur is facing an unprecedented crisis, Rameshwar said that MLAs and Ministers cannot unite due to difference of opinions.

"As a ruling MLA, I feel ashamed to go out of home for our failure to bring a solution to the protracted crisis.

I didn't have any answer when a senior citizen asked me our Government's stand on the present crisis", he said.

In fact, there is no initiative to hold any peace talk nor the Government has taken up any action against the aggressors, he said.

"With the Government acting as if it is totally powerless, I don't have any convincing answer to any of the several questions raised by the people", the BJP MLA representing Keirao AC continued.

Rameshwar also expressed strong disapproval against the State Government's policy of all contract works to companies based outside the State.

Barring those contract works which require heavy machinery and high-tech equipment which are not available with local contractors/ firms, it would be much more beneficial to the State and the local people if contract works are allocated to local contrac-tors/firms, he asserted.

By allocating even simple contract works like removal of water plants like water hyacinth from ponds and lakes to firms based outside the State, the State Government is doing great harm to the State's economy, he averred.

A project of Rs 40 crore for removal of floating biomass from Waithou Pat is being executed by Keystone, a company based outside the State.

If the project is allocated to a local contractor/firm, it will be beneficial to the State, the PDA Chairman said.

Under the Prime Minister's initiative to provide tap water to every household of the country, water supply projects are being taken up under PHED in every Assembly segment after the Centre sanctioned over Rs 300 crore but all the projects are being executed by companies based outside the State, he elaborated.

Apart from the guaranteed contractors' profit of 10 per cent, a huge amount goes outside the State as all the labourers are also brought from outside, he continued.

The number of MGNREGS mandays actually implemented in Manipur is quite low as compared to the neighbouring days.

MGNREGS could be of some help to a vast number of families when the State is reeling under severe economic impacts of the protracted crisis but MGNREGS job card holders have worked for just around 20 days this year.

In States like Sikkim, job card holders have already worked for more than 100 days.

This is a great loss for Manipur, the BJP MLA said.

He said that the State Government needs to pay special attention to this matter and see that job card holders are allowed to work for maximum days.

PMGSY is another sector where the State has failed miserably.

Whereas neighbouring Assam has started implementing phase IV, tender for phase III is still incomplete in Manipur, he pointed out.

Rameshwar went on to ask if the inordinate delay in implementing PMGSY works is because of the strained relationship between Chief Minister N Biren and RD&PR Minister Y Khemchand.

On account of the strained relationship between the two, several PMGSY works worth crores of rupees cannot be implemented in different parts of the State, he said.

On account of this stand-off, PMGSY works which must be implemented in Keirao AC at Arapti Urup, Keirao Makting and Thiyam etc have been delayed, he said.

He also expressed keen desire for all CSOs and village volunteers to work collectively under a single organisation.

With so many organisations working separately without any cohesion, the people's movement has also fractured, he observed.

"Even though the Chief Minister is helping me a lot in implementing several development works in Keirao AC, I no longer go to the CM's bungalow due to difference of opinion on the State's key issues.

I stayed away from the ruling MLAs' meeting convened by the CM recently", he confided.

Rameshwar also underscored the growing need to raise the Meitei population in view of the unfolding situation.

The Meitei community has already started experiencing the negative impacts of low child birth and Meiteis are on the verge of becoming a minority, he warned.

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