CM sets Dec/Mar deadline for Jiri-Tupul rail project
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 22 2016: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi has categorically stated that the Jiribam-Imphal railway project would be completed by December this year or March next year.

The Chief Minister made this statement today on the floor of the House while discussing Governor V Shanmuganathan's address given on the opening day of the 13th session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly on February 19 .

He informed the House that construction of most tunnels for the Jiribam-Tupul railway line has been either completed or nearing completion.

But the same project is being impeded by many unpredictable occurrences like bandhs, blockades and law and order related issues.

A senior Deputy Manager of a private construction firm was abducted recently and he was freed only a few days ago.

While MLA T Mangibabu raised a motion of thanks with regard to the Governor's address, MLA Dr Ng Bijoy seconded the same motion.

Citing different reasons, MLAs Dr I Ibohalbi, L Ibomcha and Kh Joykishan sought amendments of the Governor's address.

The Governor's address is generally viewed as the reflection of the Government's activities and policies, and maximum efforts were invested so as to make the address as comprehensive as possible, Chief Minister O Ibobi stated.

Still some areas were left out as it would be too voluminous.

Nonetheless, the areas which were left out can be incorporated while discussing demands of the full budget, he continued.

Adequate weapons and equipment cannot be issued to police stations located in hill districts on account of shortage of manpower.

If all the police stations located in hill districts must function as full fledged police stations, 3000 other police personnel must be recruited in addition to the 2000 personnel for whom recruitment process is going on.

ADCs have no grudge against functioning in their respective hill districts had it not been for the prevailing situation.

Nonetheless, the State Government has been working to deploy at least 200/300 police personnel at every hill district headquarters.

Plans are also afoot to improve infrastructure of police stations and police out-posts.

Stating that the State Government is deeply concerned with the prevailing law and order situation in the hill districts, the Chief Minister informed the House that the Government has been working relentlessly to resolve the Churachandpur issue.

The Government had appealed repeatedly to the protesters to Churachandpur to study the three Bills passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly for protection of indigenous people together with distinguished advocates of the Supreme Court if they thought the Bills had any flaws.

The avenue for modifying or withdrawing the Bills are still open, Ibobi stated.

The hills areas already have constitutional safeguards and they are not covered by the MLR&LR Act, he pointed out while exuding that all concerned can arrive at a solution to the Churachandpur issue.

Detailed reports of the losses suffered during the January 4 earthquake have been collected and the State Government has been working on a DPR for submission to the Central Government with an appeal for necessary assistance.

For immediate relief measures, an amount of Rs 20 crore was already sanctioned from the State fund.

Informing the House that rules have been framed for the Act enacted for protection of agricultural lands and wetlands, Ibobi claimed that his Government has been working to enforce the same Act.

He then called upon all the people of Manipur for protection and judicious use of the valley area which constitutes just 10 per cent of the total geographical area of Manipur.

Efforts are also on to appoint the Chairperson of the Manipur Human Rights Commission.

The Chief Information Commissioner has been appointed and other Members would be inducted soon.

He continued that the State Government has been working incessantly to make JNIMS one of the best medical institutions in the entire North East region.

RBI's Thangmeiband office is a temporary arrangement.

To build a permanent office of the bank, the State Government has allotted five acres at Mantripukhri.

Roads are being constructed/repaired in hill areas under PMGSY and it may be assumed that 99 per cent of all the villages have now road connectivity.

PMGSY works are also implemented in valley areas which are not under the jurisdiction of the Imphal Municipal Corporation, Ibobi added.

Dr Ibohalbi pointed out that the Governor's address mentioned nothing about the January 4 earthquake nor did it give any clear picture about agriculture and allied activities.

L Ibomcha raised the issues of Churachandpur, MHRC, MIC and MPSC.

Kh Joykishan remarked that the Governor's address did not mention anything about tribal development and hills.

Later the House passed the motion of thanks which was raised with regard to the Governor's address.

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