MLA Muivah pins hope on NESID for Ukhrul roads
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang
Ukhrul, October 19 2023:
Ukhrul MLA Ram Muivah is pinning his hopes on the North East Special Infrastructure Development (NESID) under the Ministry of DoNER to enable blacktopping of the deplorable roadways in Ukhrul district headquarters.
He said there are around 56 localities in Ukhrul district headquarters and only a few of them have blacktopped roads and the rest are in bad shapes.
"We need to black top all these roads," MLA Ram Muivah said in an interview in Ukhrul town, here, on Thursday.
He, however, added that the state has a limited budget allocated to its Public Works Department (PWD).
Given the PWD's limited budget, the department has prepared a concept note amounting to Rs 162 crore to be submitted to the NESID, he informed.
He then sought the intervention of chief minister N Biren in fulfilling the concept note.
'We request our chief minister to recommend the concept note to the Ministry of DoNER for black topping of Ukhrul roads," Muivah said.
According to the NPF legislator, NESID is providing Rs 8300 crore for the infrastructure development of eight states in the North East.
Last month, NESID revised its guidelines and as per the new guidelines, 50 per cent of the fund should be invested in roads only, he added.
He went on to disclose that NESID offers 100 percent grant.
"The allocation is Rs 8300 Crore for the eight North Eastern states.
Out of this allocation, Manipur can expect at least Rs 1000 Crore.
Out of this Rs 8300 Crore, Rs 4000 Crore is for roads only and we are asking for only Rs 162 Crore from NESID," he informed.