PM and Sonia Gandhi inaugurates mega projects in state
No proposal of 'Supra State Body': PM
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, December 03 2011: The Union government had never proposed a "Supra State Body" as a Christmas present for the Nagas, defying the territorial integrity of Manipur.

The Central government stands for the territorial integrity of the state, asserted the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today while addressing a public meeting at the Kangla.

Amidst various agitations including a general strike called by the Coordination Committee of 7 insurgent groups, KCP and the boycott by UCM and AMUCO, the PM and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi arrived here this morning and inaugurated five projects and laid the foundation stone of NIT.

The PM Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi arrived in Imphal this morning at 11:40 in a BSF special flight.

The duo was given a warm welcome by the Governor, CM and his Council of Ministers, DGP and other officials at the airport.

The Prime Minister, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and their team were flown in three choppers from the airport to the helipad at Kangla fort.

Soon after arriving at Kangla, the PM Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi set off for Palace compound and inaugurated the City Convention Centre at 11:55 am.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurating City Convention Centre

After that they proceeded towards the Manipur Film Development Corporation Complex and inaugurated the multipurpose hall at 12:08 pm.

Next, the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi and the whole entourage proceeded towards Chingmeirong and inaugurated the Inter State Bus Terminus, Assembly Complex and the High Court complex at Lei Ingkhol.

After inaugurating the five different mega projects, PM Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi proceeded to Raj Bhawan.

At around 2.40 in the afternoon they arrived at Kangla fort where the Prime Minister unveiled the foundation stone of NIT to be constructed at Lamphel Langol area.

A public meeting was also held at Kangla with the PM, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, MPCC President Gaikhangam, Chief Minister O Ibobi on the dais.

A painting each was also presented to the PM and Sonia Gandhi by Chief Minister O Ibobi on the occasion.

Addressing the huge crowd gathered at the sacred Kangla, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, realizing the eagerness of the people of state, clarified that there is nothing like a "Supra State Body" for the Nagas as was reported in Seven Sister Post.

In his speech at the sacred Kangla fort this evening, Dr Manmohan Singh said that Manipur is a state with a lot of potential and promise.

It is a state of breathtaking natural beauty, a very rich cultural heritage and a long and glorious tradition of peace and harmony among the many communities that live here.

Although no special package was announced during his visit in the state as requested by the Chief Minister, PM Dr Manmohan Singh, however, promised to make all possible efforts for the rapid progress of the state and that the special needs of Manipur will be duly taken care of.

He went on to say that the devolution under the 13th Finance Commission from the Centre to the State for the period 2010-2015 is expected to be about Rs 13,600 crore, which is more than double the amount given during the period 2005-2010.Manipur's Plan outlay for the current year is Rs 3210 crore which is more than three times the Plan outlay in the year 2005-06 .

He also expressed happiness over the completion of the projects which were announced during his last visit to Manipur in 2004 and 2006 and said that the 3rd component of the Capitol Project, the New Secretariat Complex has also been commenced and is likely to be completed by March 2014 .

Elaborating on the development programmes taken up in the state under the UPA government, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said that the Imphal airport has now been provided with night landing facilities.

An area of 640 acres of land has been made available for upgrading the infrastructure to International standard.

The construction of railway line from Jiribam to Imphal via Tupul is under progress and is likely to be completed by March 2016.Works on NH 53 are also going on and are expected to finish by December 2013 .

The project for the augmentation of water supply for Imphal city with raw water from Thoubal dam is also being actively considered for funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

He further went on to say that the environmental clearance for the 1500MW Tipaimukh Hydro Electric Project which will be executed jointly by National Hydroelectric Power Cooperation, Satlej al Vidyut Nigam Limited and the government of Manipur has been granted and the forest clearance is under process.

On education, the Prime Minister, informed the gathering about the setting up of Kasturba Gandhi residential schools in all the 9 districts of the state, covering even those districts which does not meet the normal eligibility criteria.

Two new Navodaya Vidyalaya for Ukhrul and Senapati has been sanctioned recently.

The proposal for the upgradation of RIMS has been approved and the proposal for JNIMS is under consideration.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, said Dr Manmohan Singh, will provide Rs 50 crore annually for modernization of the State police as requested by the state government.

As a part of the Look East Policy the Union government will discuss with the Myanmar government the possibility of introducting a bus service between Imphal and Mandalay.

The Prime Minister appealed to the people of the state to shun violence and to articulate demands of through Constitutional means.

We need to build an enabling environment so that the tremendous development potentials of the State are fully realized.

And this can only happen when there is peace and harmony in the state.

Asking various groups and individuals of to deliberate on the efficacy of acts like economic blockade, he said that "there are no winners in such disruptive activities, there are only losers",.

Despite their diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, the people of the state have lived peacefully in the past and it should be our collective endeavour to see that this legacy is carried forward.

Sonia Gandhi said that Manipur has seen a major advancement in infrastructure under the SPF government.

The mega structures which were inaugurated today were most impressive.

There are visible improvements in the field of health care sector.

She further praised the Chief Minister of Manipur for his tireless effort for accelerating the pace of development in the state taken up under the UPA government and said that it was indeed a big achievement for the state.

Further congratulating the state government for the bold step taken up to hold elections to the six tribal Autonomous District Council, Sonia Gandhi appealed to the people living in the hills to extend full cooperation in making the District Council a vibrant institution of democracy and said that the state government should ensure adequate devolution of funds to these Councils and help them build their capacity for execution of various development programmes.

She further expressed happiness over the fact that the state government has been successful in bringing some insurgent groups to the negotiating table and said that it is only through negotiations that there will be peace in the state and the Central government sincerely hopes that complete normalcy returns in the state.

The Chief Minister of Manipur, O Ibobi Singh in his welcome speech said that the Union government has made various contributions in the development programmes of the state and it is hoped that the support given by the UPA government will follow in the years to come with more assistance.

Taking advantage of the occasion, CM O Ibobi pleaded with the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi for granting a comprehensive new development package for the state, with a financial assistance of at least Rs 6,000 crores for the next 5 years plan.

He further said that the people of the state have suffered a lot and for a long time which is not fair and urged the Union government to come up with specific strategies to complete the re construction of all NHs and railways in the state.

CM O Ibobi also said that Manipur is not ruled by security forces and that the government cannot crush down any agitations by way of solving a problem.

We cannot solve one problem by inviting another problem.

The government will use force only when there is no alternative left with it.

"We cannot sacrifice an inch of Manipur", he added.

Salman Khursid, Union Minister of Law and V Narayan Swami, Minister of State (PMO), Luizino Faleiro, NE in-charge, AICC, Paban Singh Ghatowar, Union Minister of DoNER and Vincent H Pola also accompanied the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

The public meeting at Kangla fort was also attended by Speaker I Hemochandra, MP Dr T Meinya, other Ministers and MLAs.

After the meeting the PM and Sonia Gandhi along with the rest of the entourage took off for Imphal airport in a chopper from the Kangla helipad.

They have left for Delhi this evening at 4:00 .