Imphal, November 09: Reacting strongly to the interference of the Assam Rifles to Government's plan to take over the Chingmeirong Firing Range to set up the State Assembly complex and High Court, as part of the capitol project, Chief Minister O Ibobi today said that the Assam Rifles should not poke their nose into the policies of the State Government.

Straight on his arrival from Guwahati, where he had gone to attend the NE CMs' conference, the Chief Minister today went to the Firing Range site to over see the preparation work being taken up there so that the Prime Minister may lay the foundation stones of the proposed complex.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Education Minister Francis Ngajokpa, Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh, Principal Secretary (Home) AE Ahmed and ADGP JC Dabas.

Speaking to some newsmen at the site, the Chief Minister said that the Govt had already given two plots of land to relocate the Assam Rifles once they shift from Kangla.

The Govt is not bound to provide the land, but judging the contributions of the Assam Rifles in maintaining law and order in the State, the Govt gave a commitment to give an alternative site for the firing range, said the Chief Minister.

The Govt will stand by its commitment and provide the needed alternative site for the firing range, he assured.

However the unnecessary hurdles put up by the Assam Rifles to the preparation works being taken up at Chingmeirong defies logic, said the Chief Minister and added that the higher authority of the AR will be told not to interfere in the policies of the State Government.

Later the Chief Minister inspected the work being taken up Palace compound where the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of the Cultural Complex.

He also visited Manipur University where the PM has been invited to grace the convocation ceremony.

As the Prime Minister is most likely to land at MU by a helicopter, either on November 20 or 21, the CM inspected the site where the helipad is to come up.

The specification laid down for the helipad construction include a free space of 300 feet around the helipad.

The size of the helipad should be able to accommodate three choppers at a time.

The Chief Minister urged the officials concerned to speed up the construction work of the helipad.

The CM also inspected the hall where the 9th convocation ceremony of MU will be held.

On the CM's conference at Guwahati, Ibobi said that the meet stressed on the need to fully utilise the Plan fund ahead of the end of the 10th Plan so as to ensure smooth flow of fund for developmental works in the NE States.

The Chief Minister expressed optimism that the State Government will now be able to fully utilise the Plan fund which will pave the way for speedy developmental works.

To a question whether the Prime Minister will announce any economic package for Manipur, the CM said that his Government has been urging the Centre to do so.

However even if nothing materialises, the State Government has been exerting pressure to announce a Special Employment Generation Programme, which can provide self employment avenues to 50,000 youths three years time.

The fund for such a scheme is Rs 500 crores, he informed.

Due to security reasons, the earlier plan that the PM will inaugurate the Passion Fruit project at Mao has been cancelled, informed Ibobi.

Laying the foundation stone of the Loktak Downstream Project too has been put on hold as there are some details to be worked out, he said.

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