Imphal, December 28: It was a time to look back as well as to look forward and Governor Dr SS Sidhu in his first ever mass interaction with the print and electronic media of Manipur shared his thoughts and observations during an 'informal' chat at the Banquet Hall of Raj Bhawan today.

Addressing editors and correspondents of newspapers based outside Manipur, Dr SS Sidhu took the opportunity of looking back at the past days of 2005 at the fag end of the current year.

Not surprisingly, the Governor noted the MEELAL agitation and the 52 days economic blockade of ANSAM as the two most significant events during the current year.

On the MEELAL agitation, the Governor decided to speak out his mind and giving a soft rap on the knuckle of the Government observed, "The timely handling of MEELAL agitation might have avoided the arson of State's Central Library (the treasure house of knowledge), the destruction of computerised railway reservation counter and torching of public carriers".

Giving his personal opinion on the handling of the issue, the Governor remarked, "It could have been handled differently.

We should not allow the grass to grow under our feet".

Describing himself as basically a positive person, the Governor while admitting the tremendous hardship the people had to face during the 51/52 days economic blockade imposed by ANSAM, however said that a positive fall out of the blockade was the opening up of NH-53 which had not been in use for years.

"This has provided an alternative lifeline for the State," he observed.

When The Sangai Express raised a question on the progress of the repairing and development work being taken up on NH-53 and inquired whether the Governor has been kept updated on the work since his personal visit there, Dr Sidhu replied that the Barak to Jiribam stretch covering a distance of 70 kms has been freed from the hands of militants.

"The Army has cleared the area of militants and security has been provided," he claimed.

The Governor further explained that repairing work of the Makru, Irang and Barak bridges are almost finalised and are in good shape.

He added that the bridges can now carry 18 tonners.

The road stretch between Barak and Jiri will also be upgraded to a double lane, he informed and added that special funds for this will be sanctioned.

The work will be finalised by March next year, he assured the media.

Asserting that there is good progress along NH-53, Dr Sidhu said that on an average 40/45 goods carriers pass through this highway every day.

About 30 shops have also come up along this route.

Acknowledging the hardships faced by the people during the economic blockade, the Governor said that normal life and business activity was affected for almost two months and added that the worst sufferers were the poorer sections of society.

Dr Sidhu also acknowledged the maturity and resilience demonstrated by the people during the economic blockade.

Though the State remained free from any major ethnic clash or turbulence in 2005, the Governor expressed deep concern over the growing ethnic and social tension, extortions from public, businessmen, contractors, politicians and Govt Departments, abduction of professionals for ransom, senseless killings due to inter group rivalries etc.

The Governor also expressed concern over the growing intolerance in society where people are being forced to toe the line of one's fixed ideas and mindset through threats and force.

"We have to be more tolerant, particularly so in a multi-ethnic and pluralistic society like Manipur," he observed.

The pace of planning and development leaves much to be desired, said the Governor and added that there has to be greater stress on achievements of physical targets along with utilisation of funds available under Annual Plan, Centrally Sponsored Schemes, NEC and NLCPR.

A monitoring system should be put into place, he advocated and mooted that the existing system of awarding contract works be considered.

Incentives and penalties for success and failure need to be incorporated into the system to deliver the goods, he added.

Speaking out his mind, the Governor said, "We cannot allow development process to be held hostage by militants.

The wheels of development can move faster only when there is peace." The Governor also significantly noted "Peace and development are two faces of the same coin." Noting the presence of a vibrant media in Manipur, the Governor said that the media has an important role to play in ensuring peace and expressed hope that the media will give constructive suggestions to the Govt so that remedial steps are taken up by administration with transparency.

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