₹2,395.51 cr sanctioned for projects in hill areas
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 31 2024: The Public Works Department said that Rs 2,395.51 crore was sanctioned for different road and bridge projects in the hill areas of the state from 2020-21 to 2024-25 .

In the same period 2020-21 to 2024-25, a sum of Rs 1,300.21 crore was sanctioned for road and bridge projects in the valley area.

In a press statement, PWD chief engineer on Wednesday said the fund was sanctioned during the period under various schemes.

It said Rs 537.61 crore was sanctioned for 12 road and bridge projects in hill areas in 2020-21 against Rs 167.56 crore in valley for 15 projects.

In 2021-22, Rs 244.72 crore was sanctioned for 27 projects in the hills against Rs 66.55 crore for 131 projects in the valley and Rs 708.27 sanctioned for 130 road and bridge projects in the hill areas in 2022-23, against Rs 377.48 crore for 368 projects in valley, it said.

The statement said 153 road and bridge projects worth Rs 673.88 crore was sanctioned in 2023-24 in the hills against Rs 577.01 crore for 597 projects in the valley.

In 2024-25, 31 projects worth Rs 231.07 was sanctioned for hill areas whereas Rs 111.61 crore was sanctioned for nine projects for the valley areas.

The statement said that during the last four years, projects undertaken by NHIDCL in hill areas amounted to Rs 8,541.97 crore while that of valley areas was Rs 351.08 crore.

The PWD statement said also that the state is awaiting sanction of Rs 1,374.81 crore for the hill areas and an additional Rs 1,125.97 crore for the valley areas for 2024-25 from MoRT&H and NEC.

Recently the ministry sanctioned 57 road projects worth around Rs 400 crore for the valley areas.

Criticising the allocation as neglect of hill areas of the state, MLA Paolienlal Haokip wrote on X, "All 57 road projects only for Manipur's valley districts.

This is why a union territory with a legislature is a must for the hills" .

The PWD's statement was issued in response to the MLA's allegation.

The hill areas of Manipur occupy 90 per cent of the total geography of the state while more than 60 per cent of the state's population are confined in the valley areas.

(With inputs from PTI) .

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