Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 30:
Clearing any doubt hanging over the State visit of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in a communique to the State Govt has confirmed his arrival on December 2.Contrary to previous schedules which include the paying of the foundation stones of the Tipaimukh multi-purpose project and Loktak Downstream Project, Dr Manmohan would attend a public function at Kangla Fort on December 2 and return to the national capital on the same evening after completing other official engagements, if any.
Beautification drive being taken up in Imphal ahead of the Prime Minister's visit scheduled on December 2
According to an official source, the PM's visit has been trimmed down to only two hours including arrival at Imphal (Tulihal) Airport at 1.15 pm accompanied by two Union Ministers from where the Central leaders will proceed to Kangla for the public function set to start at 1.30 pm.
The PM's visit is so limited that he would have lunch on-board the special Indian Airforce plane, confided the source while adding that before departure slated for around 4 pm the PM is also scheduled to meet the media.
Other highlights of the visit include laying the foundation stones symbolically for construction of National Sports Academy, Manipur Institute of Technology and Cultural cum City Convention Centre all at Kangla.
Apart from cancellation of the Tipaimukh and Loktak Downstream-related programmes, the proposed public meeting at Churachandpur to be addressed by the PM has also been scrapped, informed the course.
In connection with the PM's visit a high level review meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh and attended by top security and civil officials was held at the conference hall of Old Secretariat (South Block) today.
When queried the source speculated that non-issuance of environmental clearance from the Central Ministry concerned might be the main factor for deletion of Tipaimukh Dam from the PM's itinerary.
It may be mentioned that as pre-emptive measure an SPG team led by a DIG rank officer had already arrived at Imphal to oversee security arrangement.
In related development, Chief Minister O ibobi Singh called on Governor Dr SS Sidhu for a one to one discussion on the PM's visit after which the CM presided a meeting of the SPF's council of Ministers at around 5 pm.
On the otherhand, the CM also felicitated world champion women boxers MC Mary Kom and L Sarita Devi at Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium today wherein he appealed to the sports persons to attend the foundation stone laying ceremony of National Sports Academy by the PM at Kangla on December 2.The Academy is to be established at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex.
Meanwhile, in addition to concerted repairing works being taken up in various locations where the PM's entourage is likely to traverse, 12 decorative gates to welcome the PM would be erected along the Tiddim Line stretch from the airport upto kangla.