Imphal, October 13: The State Cabinet during an emergency meeting held at the Chief Minister's Secretariat today discussed the necessary arrangement for the forthcoming visit of the Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee among other things and resolved to urge the Prime Minister to re-assure the people on the territorial integrity of the State when he addresses them at Kangla, a reliable source informed.

According to the source, the Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister minutely discussed the security arrangements to be taken up and gave its approval for expansion of the present helipad at Kangla by 100 metres on all sides so that three helicopters can land at one time as against its present capacity of only two, apart from constructing a new one ahead of the Prime Minister's visit.

Acting on the directive of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), today's Cabinet meeting decided to make necessary arrangements for erecting barricades and a rostrum to be used when the prime Minister addresses a public meeting at Kangla.

The Cabinet also decided to urge the Prime Minister to re-assure the people of the State on the territorial integrity of Manipur during his address, the source disclosed.

The Cabinet meeting further decided to submit a memorandum to the visiting Prime Minister with a request to announce a special package for development of the State and to appeal to the people to extend their cooperation during Prime Minister's visit, the source said, informing that a seven-member drafting committee with the Chief Minister as its chairman has also been formed during to the meeting to draft the memorandum.

The other members of the drafting committee are Commerce and Industries Minister Th Debendra, FCS Minister Ph Parijat, Forest Minister C Doungel, Works Minister Gaikhangam, MAHUD Minister L Nandakumar and Higher Education Minister Dr T Meinya, the source said.

The Cabinet meeting which was also attended by Chief Secretary AP Sharma and DGP Bimalchandra also discussed the setting up of 4th and 5th IRB battalion to strengthen the State police force.

Though a definite decision was not arrived at, opinions were put forward in favor of setting up only one battalion first in view of the financial condition of the State, the source informed.

The meeting took note of the existing 2000 post vacancy in the State Police Department and proposed to reserve 700/800 posts for the proposed 4th IRB and fill up the remaining, the source said, adding that though the Centre had financed the setting up of the first battalion of the IRB, the State Government has to bear with all the required expenditure for the subsequent battalions.