Imphal, February 11: Purul sub-division in Senapati district received the long awaited office of the Sub-Divisional Officer today and the icing on the cake was the announcement by Works Minister Th Debendra that Rs 95 lakhs will be aside to construct the Maram-Purul road.

The SDO office became a reality today long after the office of the SDO was opened at Purul in 1994.Since then the SDO has been functioning from the IB for want of an office.

Works Minister Th Debendra inaugurated the office today.

Karong AC MLA Henry Paotei and Mao AC MLA RK Thekho attended the function as president and guest of honour respectively.

Addressing the gathering, Debendra noted the pitiable condition of the Maram-Purul road and added that construction of the road was on the programme of the Govt.A sum of Rs 95 lakhs will be released at the soonest possible time to construct the road, he added.

Elaborating, the Minister said that the first task will be to repair the two bridges over the Barak River which lie on the route.

The repair work will be finalised before Monsoon, he assured.

Debendra said that the inauguration of the SDO office, which will cover 29 villages, is a small but significant achievement of the SPF Govt which has focused on the development of the hill districts.

Lack of development and absence of communication are the seeds of alienation, he observed.

The Works Minister assured that he will do his level best for the development of Purul sub-division.

Asking Govt employees to dispense with their duties sincerely, the Minister directed the SDO of Purul to submit his report on the need of the sub-division within two/three days� time.

He also assured that the Govt will try to make up for all shortfalls within 15 days time.

On the IB at Purul, the Minister assured that his office will look into the needs of the IB and see what can be done.

The demand for a school library has been referred to the Minister concerned, he informed the gathering.

MLA RK Thekho in his address said that Purul is the headquarters of the Poumai tribe and added that developing this sub-division is on the agenda of the SPF Govt.The SDO office will go a long way in fulfilling the needs of the people, he observed.

Thekho also urged the people to put in social service and mop up the inter-village road as well as the drainage system before the onset of Monsoon.

Henry Paotei under whose jurisdiction Purul falls, said that Karong Assembly Constituency is amongst the backward Assembly segments in Manipur.

The inauguration of the SDO office at Purul will herald a chapter in the development of Karong AC, he noted and added that the office should be a living entity, working for the benefits of the people.

The MLA also expressed his desire to complete the Senapati-Phaibung road taken up by the BRO before the onset of Monsoon.

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