Imphal, August 09: Reminding the assurance given by the Chief Minister to upgrade Jiribam to the status of a full fledged revenue district and the approval given by the Delimitation Commission towards this end, Revenue and Law Minister Th Debendra has reassured that the Jiribam sub-division will be definitely granted district status.

The Revenue Minister was speaking at foundation stone laying ceremonies of a guest house, ADC office and a 50 bedded hospital at different places of Jiribam.

He said that the State Government has been concentrating on installing all the infrastructure necessary for a district.

The foundation stone laying ceremonies was also participated by Works Minister K Ranjit, PDA Chairman MLA Kh Loken, MLA Bijoy Koijam, MLA I Hemochandra, MLA Meghachandra, PWD Chief Engineer and other high ranking officials.

Asserting that initiative to build ADC office, guest house and the hospital is also a part of the State Government's effort to install necessary infrastructure required for a district at Jiribam, Debendra noted that it is only logical to install the necessary infrastructure first.

However, the Revenue Minister took strong exception to the act of vandalising foundation stones which only showed the impatience of some people and their craving for credit.

He remarked that the movement of some people or a committee cannot realise the people's wish.

The credit of converting Jiribam sub-division to a full fledged revenue district should go to all the people of Jiribam, he observed.

The foundation stone of the guest house at Babupara, Jiri was demolished by suspected bandh supporters yesterday as a result of which five persons suspected to be involved in the vandalism were pulled up.

The foundation stone was officially laid today after the structure was rebuilt yesterday itself.

Debendra further informed that plans are afoot to develop the road from Jiribam to Tipaimukh.

Moreover, under the initiative of the State Government to make Jiribam a pilgrimage site, the busts of Bir Tikendrajit, Thangal General and Paona Brajabashi will be unveiled on August 13.Speaking on the occasion, Works Minister K Ranjit stated that his trip to Jiribam together with MLAs and officials was aimed at taking a first hand account of the development works being executed by PWD and BRTF along NH-53 as well as to take up other development programmes in Jiribam.

Ranjit also sought cooperation of the public in taking various development works in the sub-division ahead of the conversion of Jiribam to a revenue district which is imminent.

The foundation stone for guest house was laid at Babupara, for the 50 bedded hospital at Ningsingkhul Aglapur and for ADC office at Chingdongkhul Pachao.

On the other hand, due to 24 hours general strike called by the Jiribam District Demand Committee since 6 pm yesterday, normal life was severely affected.

Yet, the strike concluded without major untoward incidents.

Meanwhile, large number of people staged a sit-in-protest against the arrest of JDDC convenor Y Romio, co-convenor M Maipaksana, Premchandra, L Brojen and A Satrajit.

All of them were released later in the evening.

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