Plans afoot to re-align NH-39, shops to be shifted
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 29: To re-align the Imphal-Moreh road which has a sharp bending near Kalimai temple and to expand the approach road to Singjamei bridge by arranging an alternative site for the shops and market sheds located there, the State Government has taken up necessary steps.

With an objective to relocate the shops and market sheds located along the approach road to Singjamei bridge, demolition work of the Singjamei Girls High School have already started.

The building of Singjamei Girls HS and other structures being cleared to widen the road on NH-39

Briefing media persons on the initiative, Chief Minister O Ibobi confided that the resistance offered by the shopkeepers and shop-owners to expansion and development of the approach road from NH 39 to Singjamei bridge may be removed by the new arrangement.

Along with the shops located beside the approach road, the market shed to the south of the road will also be shifted to the site occupied by the Singjamei Girls High School.

At the original site of the market, a traffic island will be constructed in line with the Government's plan to make spacious road there, Ibobi informed while seeking people's cooperation towards this end.

Following construction of the new Singjamei bridge and making of the approach road which is much elevated than the earlier level, all the shops on its sides have gone below the approach road thereby creating great dissent to the shopkeepers.

They have earlier took up agitation demanding an alternative site should their shops be dislocated to pave way for proper development of the road.

On the other hand, the Singjamei Girls High School which had been posing a major hurdle to expansion of NH 39 was found to be having a few students whereas there were 20 teachers.

As such, the schools will be merged with the Chingamakha High School and its site would be allotted to the shopkeepers owning shops along the approach road to Singjamei bridge after leaving certain portions necessary for expansion of NH 39, informed Chief Minister O Ibobi.

He further said that the State Government has plans to re-align the NH 39 which has a sharp bending near Kalimai temple due to the firing range.

Under the State Government's plan, the sharp curve from 1st Bn MR main gate to Yaiskul will be removed by making the highway straight.

He further hinted that the Govt may soon strike an agreement with the people in this regard.

As regards establishment of SPOs in Heirok, the State Government has completed all arrangement.

Now what is pending is the decision of the Heirok people, the Chief Minister stated.

A meeting was held with the Heirok JAC some days back and they were told to adopt a concrete decision on the matter, he conveyed.

On the question of using SPOs in counter-insurgency operations, the Chief Minister clarified that the SPOs would not be used in any other purpose except defending their own villages.

In the event of any unwanted incident in Heirok area and if the perpetrators managed to flee beyond Heirok, the SPOs may pursue them a little distance beyond Heirok area, iterated Ibobi while claiming that this should not be assumed as using SPOs in counter-insurgency operations.

Stating that only commandos and other well-trained security personnel were used in counter-insurgency operations, the Chief Minister who is also in charge of the Home Department asked, "how can one expect the State to use this SPOs in counter-insurgency operations after training for just one month?".

He further informed that the Government has made all arrangements to provide solar lighting systems and mikes as demanded by Heirok JAC.

Besides putting in place all the necessary steps for creation of SPOs in Chajing, the Government has been communicating with the people of Chajing.

Only the inability to finalise guidelines has been delaying the initiative.

After the physical efficiency test conducted in Heirok for recruitment of SPOs, a second physical test will be conducted soon.

The eligibility criteria for the first physical test was class X passed but for the second test, this would be relaxed to class VIII passed.

The second physical test was necessitated by the wish of the people to constitute 50 percent of the 300 strong SPOs by class VIII passed candidates and the other half by class X passed candidates, explained Ibobi.

Earlier the eligibility criteria for SPOs was fixed at class X pass at the same level as the required educational qualification of Police Constables, MR/IRB Rifleman to leave room for absorption in Police/MR/IRB later according to physical fitness and integrity of SPOs, Ibobi elucidated.

The State Cabinet, after studying the report submitted by the Police Department has declared that the SPOs are meant for defence of their villages and they would not be utilised in counter insurgency operations and they would not be allowed to venture outside their villages with guns.

The report submitted to the State Cabinet was based on the first hand accounts of two police officers who visited Jammu and Kashmir to look into the modalities and guidelines under which the J&K Government was arming villagers for self-defence.