Minister Biswajit inspects Tamenglong Mini Secretariat
Source: DIPR *

Imphal, May 09 2017: Works Minister Shri Thongam Biswajit Singh has expressed concerned about the delay in shifting of offices into the Tamenglong Mini Secretariat.

The Minister said this on Tuesday when, he together with Tamenglong MLA Shri Samuel Jendai, Commissioner Works Shri K Radhakumar, visited Tamenglong district Headquarter and inspected the Mini Secretariat at Farm Lane.

On the way to the district headquarter, the Minister also stopped along the road and inspected the road restoration work presently underway there.

Minister Biswajit also expressed worry about the delay in shifting of offices into the Mini Secretariat which was inaugurated by the previous government in 2011, and called for the concerned officials to chalk out a work-map to restore the structures so that it could serve its purpose at the earliest.

Minister Biswajit inspects Tamenglong Mini Secretariat

He said construction of the Mini Secretariat was started around 2007-08 and inaugurated in 2011 with an estimated cost of Rs.39.29 crore.

However, today a major concern of not only the present government, but also of the public is why there has been such a prolonged delay in shifting of government offices into the Mini Secretariat, he added.

Although the place was neglected for long, it is the objective of the new government to make the government department offices freely accessible to the people, he said.

Minister Biswajit further said he is disheartened by the neglected condition of the buildings and non-maintenance of quality during construction.

Fortunately, there are no major damages in the structures including on the pillars and the beams, he said.

He added the government will renovate the buildings and provide all essentials services including barracks, quarters for the staff, water supply, power supply after proper discussion with the Chief Minister at the earliest to ensure full functioning of the Mini Secretariat by 2018 .

The Minister also expressed concerned over the quality of road repairing work at various stretches of the Khongsang to Tamenglong Headquarter road.

Speaking on the bad condition of the road connecting Khongsang to the district headquarter, the Minister said the government had proposed extension of the National Highway till Kangpokpi via Tamei, However, the concerned authorities had approved only the present stretch.

Following the approval, restoration work of the Khongsang to district headquarter road has already been initiated as was witnessed during today's visit, he said.

Regarding the government's earlier assurance to make the Imphal-Jiribam highway motorable by May-end, the Minister said government the assurance was given as per the report of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL).

He said it is the commitment of the government to make the road atleast motorable by a set timeline, preferably by May-June if the weather allows.

The Minister also expressed strongly that the government will not tolerate absence of concerned engineers and supervisors at work sites and non-maintenance of quality in works.

He further appealed to the people of Tamenglong to provide support and co-operation to the new government in bringing a new change.

During today's inspection visit, the Minister was also accompanied by the Chief Engineer Works, other officials of the department, Water Supply and district administration.

* The sender of this news can be contacted at diprmanipur(AT)gmail(DOT)com .