'Molnoi bridge prohibited'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 01 2024: The RCC bridge being constructed by a particular community over Manipur River at Molnoi village in the adjoining area of Kakching and Chandel district has been prohibited by the State Government.

This was stated by Chief Minister N Biren in response to a query raised by MLA K Ranjit during question hour in the State Assembly today.

To K Ranjit's query whether anybody can construct a bridge without the Government's approval and whether the bridge construction work has been going on or dismantled, Biren stated that there was a report on construction of a bridge without the Government's approval.

After the DC Chandel issued an order on March 21, 2024, the bridge construction work was prohibited.

Another order was issued by the district police and other law enforcing agencies on May 24 to remove all the structures of the bridge, Biren said.

The Government would see that the bridge is not completed and whatever structures that have been built so far are removed, Chief Minister N Biren stated on the floor of the house.

As some people have been claiming that the area where the bridge is constructed is a patta land, the Government has initiated due process to cancel the same patta.

A notice has also been issued to verify land records.

The DGP and other security agencies have been directed to stop the bridge construction work and remove whatever structures that have been built so far by registering an FIR against the chief of the village near which the bridge is built, Biren said.

An order was issued to the Chandel DC to remove the bridge but the bridge structures could not be removed as of now as the river's water level rose quite high following heavy rainfall, he said.

As the bridge construction started without the Government's approval, those people involved in constructing the bridge will also be arrested, the Chief Minister stated.

Moreover, people who financed the bridge have also been identified.

Due legal action will be taken up against them, he said.

The Government will not allow the bridge construction work to go ahead and the structures built so far would be removed at the first available opportunity, the Chief Minister assured.

Replying to another query raised by K Ranjit, the Chief Minister informed the House that the total strength of State forces without VDF and Home Guard is 30,204 .

The strength of MR is 6264, IRB 9323 and the total strength of police, civil commando and special commando is 14,076 .

The strengths of VDF and Home Guard are 9169 and 1818 respectively, Biren said.

A number of State forces are still there in Kangpokpi, Churachandpur and Moreh.

A retired Supreme Court Judge has been probing the causes and origin of the violence.

The truth will be known after a report is received from the enquiry commission, he added.

To a query raised by Congress MLA K Meghachandra on misappropriation of Rs 30.36 crore from Tribal Affairs and Hills Department, Biren stated that one Joint Director and a Deputy Director have been placed under suspension apart from registering FIRs against them in connection with the particular case.

Informing that an SIT has also investigated the case, the Chief Minister said that the Government would recover the misappropriated amount.

He said that the department's files are being examined on need basis.

Replying to a question of MLA O Surjakumar, RD&PR Minister Y Khemchand said that road works of a total distance of 1339 Kms were executed under PMGSY between 2017-18 and 2022-23 .

However, many of these works could not be completed because of the outbreak of Covid pandemic which was followed by the violent crisis, Khemchand said.

Out of 2124 works sanctioned under PMGSY Phase I and II, 1922 works have been completed by 90 per cent.

The Government has been working to hold tender for PMGSY Phase III works in August.

Saying that Rs 20 crore has been set aside for maintenance works in the annual budget, the RD&PR Minister asserted that there will be no financial problem.

Replying to a question of Th Lokeshwar, Chief Minister N Biren said that 19 Fire Protection and Control Sub-Stations have been already opened and the Government has been working to open 10 more such sub-stations at Porompat, Lamlai, Khumbong, Litan, Saikul, Tadubi, Lilong, Wangjing, Heirok and Noney.

Later, the House passed a Vote on Account amounting to Rs 2390,55,84,916 for the month of August.

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