Imphal, February 12: The Centre reviewed the progress of the numerous Central schemes being taken up in the State during meeting convened by Union Cabinet Secretary KM Chandrasekhar and State officials led by Chief Minister Jarnail Singh at Rastrapati Bhawan, Delhi today at 11.30 am.

Speaking to The Sangai Express an official source from Delhi said that the meeting reviewed the progress of the works taken under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, the Jiri-Tupul Rail Line as well as the works taken up to upgrade NH-39 to a four laned Highway and the works taken up along NH-150 from Churachandpur to Tipaimukh.

Works taken up under the Indira Awaas Yojna were also discussed during the meeting.

Earlier, before the State's report was discussed, a team from the Central had visited the State to over see the implementation of the NREGS, said the source.

The team studied the programme implementation at Churachandpur, Tamenglong and Chandel districts, said the source and added while the team lauded the steps taken up at Churachandpur and Tamenglong, it had suggested that it should be expedited at Chandel.

During the meeting today, the Cabinet Secretary inquired why so much stress was laid on road works under the NREGS, said the source and added that in response, the Chief Secretary replied that since road connectivity is the key to development in Manipur, importance was given to road work.

The meeting also decided that works under the NREGS at Parbung in Churachandpur should be speeded up.

During the discussion on the Jiri-Tupul rail line, officials of Central Departments concerned talked about the difficulties being faced following the activities of militants along the Lamding to Silchar route.

The officials concerned on the other hand were instructed to speed up the rail line work, said the source.

The status reports of the work being taken up to upgrade NH-39 to a four laned Highway were also discussed at length during the meeting today, said the source and added that the works being taken up along NH-150 connecting Churachandpur with Tipaimukh also figured during the discussion.

On Tipaimukh dam the source said that the meeting decided that another hearing will be held at the dam's site sometime in March this year so as to get the environmental clearance for the project to go ahead.

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