Imphal, December 20 2008: STATE CHIEF Minister, O Ibobi has said that with a view to alleviating the traffic congestion and mounting garbages in Imphal city, the government was considering with the planning department the feasibility of developing satellite towns in different parts of Greater Imphal.

Chief Minister Ibobi, who was the chief guest at the inaugural function of the two-day seminar on the theme "Imphal city�today and tomorrow" organised by Workers' Union, Manipur (WUM) at the State Guest House at Sanjenthong here, said that after the completion of the construction of Capital Project and High Court Complex at Chingmeirong, the government was mulling over construction of some multi-storeyed parking buildings in order to mitigate the problem of parking space.

Construction of an inter-state bus terminus was also being considered, the Chief Minister said.

He said, the Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) has not looked into the multi-storeyed buildings being constructed in different parts of the city in violation of law.

If the buildings collapse causing heavy casualties, the government would be blamed.

He further said that if the IMC has no power to take up works to keep the city neat and clean, it must inform the government by submitting proposals.

It wouldn't be fair for the government to pay special attention to the IMC while neglecting the other municipal councils.

When privatisation of cleaning the garbages of the city was mooted, the IMC raised objection, the Chief Minister said.

When construction of the three market complexes is completed, the women vendors who have licence will be allowed to occupy their places.

After they have been given their places, the authority would try to give space to those women who are now sitting on the roadside selling vegetables, he said.

Saying that it was quite fortunate that the WUM was making efforts to keep the city neat and clean, Chief Minister Ibobi appealed that all should contribute to making the Imphal city, which is the appearance of Manipur, neat and clean and make it a city without garbage and diseases.

Chairman of Manipur Pollution Control Board, E Dwijamani who was guest of honour at the function said, if we must not touch the environment, we have to be cave-men.

If we do not want to remain as cave-men, then we have to take up various developmental works.

And we must try to control the environmental pollution that comes out of the development projects, he said.

MLA T Mangibabu who was also guest of honour said the various problems that we are facing in Imphal city are results of lack of systematic development of the city.

In developing the city, all need to understand and cooperate, he said.

Chairperson of IMC, RK Ranisana, who attended the function as guest of honour, opined that the works being taken up by various department of the government made Imphal city dirty.

Due to lack of funds, the IMC couldn't operate properly.

Member of Manipur Human Rights Commission, RK Rajendra said setting up an ecological task force in Manipur was badly needed.

The president of WUM, Ningthouja Chonminthang presided over the function.

In the technical session, prof N Mohendra, department of economics, MU was the chair person.

Former Chief Engineer of PWD, E Binoykumar presented paper on "Development of road connectivity in Imphal city", SP, CMTW Imphal P Dhanakumar presented a paper on "Role of police in the growth of Imphal city", Joint Director, MAHUD W Bhaktaraj read out a paper on "Urban migration in Imphal city with special reference to inter-state migrant labour" and Deputy Director Transport, B K Sharma spoke on "Traffick control, transport and parking system in Imphal city".

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