Why only in the valley : AMTU cries foul
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 24 2024: The All Manipur Tribal Union (AMTU) has written to Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Transport Nitin Gadkari over the exclusion of hill areas while awarding road projects which are to be taken up in Manipur under a Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) scheme.

The subject of the letter submitted through the Chairman of Hill Areas Committee (HAC) ran as "Strong disapproval, dissatisfaction and rebuttal against the allocation of work programmes amounting Rs 217.50 crore to be implemented only in the valley areas of Imphal excluding the entire hill areas under Central CRIF from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for the State of Manipur" .

Saying that the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has committed a grave error in sanctioning Rs 217.50 crore to construct 57 different roads under CRIF in the valley areas via an office memorandum dated October 8, the Union appealed to the Ministry to rectify, redress, reverse and undo the office memorandum and come out with a fresh and balanced office memorandum which allocate inclusive works for the entire State of Manipur.

AMTU also said that the Ministry should have minutely perused, screened and scrutinized the letter submitted by the Secretary to the Government of Manipur (Public Work Department) which had a concept note for 111 CRIF works total amounting Rs 399.36 crore for implementation in Manipur under CRIF.

Stating that the Ministry has approved 57 work programmes under CRIF, the Union said that the letter, however, shows the 'biased nature, parochial mindset and the valley centric of the State Government in the implementation of developmental schemes and other related programmes.

Moreover, all the premier educational institutions like CAU, MU, NIT, RIMS, JNIMS, DM University, IGNOU are located in Imphal, AMTU said and added that all sports infrastructures and other important facilities are also in the valley districts only.

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