Leimatak bailey bridge inaugurated Dy CM Gaikhangam
Dismisses all allegations of discrimination
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 08, 2014: Claiming that far greater numbers of development programmes are being implemented in hill districts of the State as compared to the valley, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam has dismissed all the allegations of the State Government being communal.

He also called upon the people of the State not to let themselves influenced by unfounded propaganda of some organisations.

A new bailey bridge constructed over Leimatak river which would provide key connectivity to Loktak Downstream Hydroelectric Power Project was inaugurated today by Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam.

The bailey bridge spanning over 20 feet is 200 feet long.

Components of the bridge were constructed by GRSE Kolkata which is under the Ministry of Defence.

Installation and launching of the components were done by the State PWD with funds drawn from SPA.

The newly inaugurated bailey bridge would be fit for transportation of heavy machinery needed for Loktak Downstream Hydroelectric Power Project.

Speaking at the inaugural function held at Taosang Khunou which was attended by a large number of people including chiefs of surrounding villages, Gaikhangam stated that the bailey bridge has opened a roadway for execution of Loktak Downstream Hydroelectric Project.

Development is something which cannot be concealed and it always goes together with enlightenment.

But no development can be achieved if there is no conducive atmosphere.

Leimatak bailey bridge inaugurated Dy CM

Saying that the Loktak Downstream Hydroelectric Power Project would be taken with a multi-departmental approach, the Deputy Chief Minister called upon the local people to show their hospitality to all visiting officials.

"Show them hospitality and let us reap the fruits of our own hospitality", Gaikhangam exhorted.

Even if there are disruptive elements, people can always persuade them for they cannot survive without people's support.

In addition to the Imphal-Dimapur highway, the State Government has been working to develop New Cachar Road as another life line of Manipur.

He conceded that many anti-social elements have been operating and committing all kinds of illegal activities along Imphal-Dimapur highway since many years back.

People residing along New Cachar Road and Tamenglong district should not miss the opportunity of establishing an alternative route.

It is often said that when Ukhrul shouts, people fight in Senapati and people kill each other in Tamenglong district.

In that case, is the people of Tamenglong who are most naive.

People of Tamenglong do not want such an epithet and they need not go by the words of other people.

Rather they should cooperate with transporters, traders as well as passengers.

This would pave way for development, Gaikhangam asserted.

Claiming that the Congress Government is the only Government which has successfully implemented several development programmes in the hill districts of Manipur, Gaikhangam stated that some mini-secretariats and 50-bedded hospitals constructed at hill district headquarters have been already commissioned.

SDO/BDO offices, staff quarters, banks, post offices and water supply schemes are being constructed at different blocks of hill districts in phase manner even though there is no such construction in the valley.

There is a plan to augment the capacity of Churachandpur district hospital from 100 beds to 200 beds with a vision to upgrade to the level of a medical college.

Efforts are also on to establish an IIIT at Mayangkhang, Senapati district.

The Government has already given consent to upgrade a number of SDC offices to the status of SDO offices.

Noney SDC office would be upgraded to the level of an SDO office.

A world class road would pass through Tamenglong and the project would be funded by ADB.

Saying that these are only what came to his mind, Gaikhangam stated that there many more projects which the Government is executing in hill districts.

He went on to question, "Are all these development activities signs of the State Government neglecting hill districts or are they indications of the Government being communal?" He further called upon the people not be swayed by the propaganda of some organisations.

Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar, PWD Chief Engineer, Additional Chief Engineer, Tamenglong ADC Members and NHPC General Manager were also present at the inaugural function.