Do not know throw a spanner to development works : Dy CM
'Plan to open gateway at Champhai defeated'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 11 2014: Urging the people not to disturb or create nuisance in any of the development works taken up by the Government, Deputy Chief Minister and Commerce and Industries Minister Govindas Konthoujam today asserted that it was after a lot of lobbying and hard work that the State Government finally managed to put Moreh as the gateway to South East Asia, whereas the earlier plan was to make Champhai in Mizoram the gateway.

This was stated during the inaugural functions of the Hostels for boys and girls of Ekavlya Residential School near Kundong Lairembi near Moreh and Khujairok bridge and Moreh by pass road.

Speaking at a function at Moreh Trade Centre after the inauguration programmes, Govindas Konthoujam who presided, said that the Moreh by pass road and the Khujairok bridge are vital components of the Look East Policy taken up by the Government of India.

Deputy CM Gaikhangam inaugurating the Khujairok bridge

The bridge will connect the proposed Integrated International Township and Integrated Check Post which are set to come up at Hollenphai, which lies between Myanmar and Manipur.

The efforts and lobbying earlier to shift the gateway to South East Asia to Champhai at Mizoram has failed, said Govindas and added that now Moreh is the only trade route with the South East Asian countries.

On the pretext that Manipur is insurgency ridden with bandhs and blockades galore, the Army and Assam Rifles had tried their level best to convince the Centre that the gateway should be located at Champhai, said Govindas and that after taking a closer look at the topography and terrain at Champhai, the decision to open the gateway at Moreh was taken.

Plans are underway to come up with the Integrated Check Post as soon as possible, said Govindas.

However since there is a dispute over the previous site, the Government will look for a new site to set up the ICP.

Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam on seeing the poor turn out at the function expressed his disappointment.

The poor turn out is a dampener, he said and added that this is akin to the public not taking much interest in the works taken up by the Government for the welfare of the public.

Issuing a veiled warning, Gaikhangam said that if such indifferences continue then the gateway may be shifted to Konkan in Ukhrul district or Behiang, where border trade can flourish.

Coming down heavily on encroachments, the Deputy Chief Minister said that there should be no room for occupying land or encroachment on the basis of community.

Moreh belongs to all and cannot be the sole property of any particular community.

On the inauguration of the hostels for Ekavlya Model School, Gaikhangam said that the hostels were constructed for the benefits of the deprived section of the tribal people and is the first such school in the State.

No fees will be charged, free books and free uniform will also be distributed to the students of the school, he added.

The Government will also bear the expenditure of their fooding.

Each hostel will house 60 students.

Chairman of the Manipur Tribal Development Corporation Manga Vaiphei, Tengnoupal Assembly Constituency MLA DK Korungthang, Commerce and Industries Commissioner Lakher and Directors of Tribal Affairs and Hills and Commerce and Industries were part of the team that went to Moreh today.