Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 28:
Five officials of the State Public Works Department, including engineers, who had been sent to look after the road development work along the Imphal-Moreh stretch of NH-39 ahead of the Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh's visit to the border town of Moreh tomorrow have been abducted by one UG group.
This was disclosed by Chief Minister O Ibobi while speaking as chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony at Manipur Press Club to the winners of the 1st State Level Jananeta Hijam Irabot Memorial Open Marathon.
It is reported that the PWD officials were abducted yesterday from Imphal-Moreh road.
The Union Commerce Minister is visiting the State in response to the request of the State Government to the Prime Minister to develop Moreh as a modern international trade centre.
Instead of carrying the Minister by helicopter to the border town, the State Government proposed that the Minister visit Moreh by road so that the he can have a first hand account of the existing road infrastructure in the State.
As part of the programme, the PWD officials were sent to Moreh in advance to look after road repairing works, said the Chief Minister.
The PWD officials were reportedly taken hostage contending that they could not work there as the said area/road stretch belong to the 'project area' of the UG group concerned.
Castigating the often repeated warnings to the State Government by using such words as "strong agitation would be launched" by many organisations, the Chief Minister derisively said that it may be a good idea to establish a separate Ministry to deal exclusively with the numerous issues plaguing the State.
Touching on development activities despite the frequent disturbances, Ibobi informed that the Makru and Barak bridges along NH-53 being constructed by BRTF would be completed within two months and there would be no more problem for 25 tonners to ply along the route.
At the foundation laying function for construction of administrative block of Electricity Department at Keishampat too, the Chief Minister conveyed his deep concern and helplessness at the face of agitation and dharnas lined up all year round.
He observed that the State Power Department was bankrupt.
The State Government has been paying Rs 9 crores every month to power companies for purchase of power while the Department was able collect only Rs 1.5 crore per month from the consumers, Ibobi noted.
Acknowledging that there has been no or little improvement despite several schemes and arrangements to enhance bill collection and to bail out the Power Department, Ibobi flayed the inability of the Department to implement any corrective measures effectively.
To prevent transmission loss and unauthorised connection, laying of underground cables for transmission of power would be taken up in Greater Imphal, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Churachandpur under the Accelerated Power Development Reforms.
For the scheme Rs 140 crores would be released soon, said O Ibobi.
Speaking on the occasion, Power Minister Francis Ngajokpa asserted that some Manipur based NGOs had sent memoranda to the Centre against proposed hydro power projects in Arunachal Pradesh.
He added that he had copies of the memoranda.
Disclosing that electricity consumers of the State owe Rs 165 crores to the Department, Francis Ngajokpa decried the mentality of the people who wish to have regular supply of electricity while they are quite reluctant to pay bills.
The administrative block of the Electricity Department for which the foundation stone was laid would be constructed at the estimated cost of Rs 6.28 crores and is slated for completion in 2008-09.