Imphal, October 01: Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh has announced that the Centre will release a one time grant of Rs 80 to Rs 100 crores to upgrade the infrastructure of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences.

With this, the annual intake capacity of MBBS and BDS students at RIMS will increase to 150 from the current capacity of 100."Last night I had a meeting with Governor Dr SS Sidhu and Chief Minister Okram Ibobi who put up for proposals including upgrading RIMS which I confirmed with the Union Health Minister", said Jairam.

After the Indo-Myanmar trade through Moreh has been granted the status of a free trade zone in place of the earlier trade agreement on just 22 items, the Minister has also assured to initiate many more development projects in the State.

Concerning the stiff opposition and deep concern raised by the people of Manipur against the Tipaimukh project due to its possibility of submerging many villages, the Minister said that the Chief Minister will take up necessary measures so that fear and negative anticipation is removed.

Informing that the Prime Minister is likely to visit the State in October last week or November, Jairam said that the Chief Minister may highlight the matter to the Prime Minister.

Disclosing that the Border Roads Organisation will be entrusted with the development work of all the National Highways running in the State having total length of 950 kms, the Commerce Minister noted that Rs 15 crores sanctioned by the Centre for development of the Imphal-Moreh section of NH 39 is too meagre.

He assured to urge the Union Government to increase the amount to Rs 50 crores.

As for the proposal to set up the North East Infrastructure Development Corporation, Jairam pledged to take up the matter with the authority concerned so that the proposal is implemented at the earliest.

To a question, he asserted that the current peace talks between the Centre and NSCN (IM) will not affect the boundaries of North Eastern States.

Jairam said, "The peace process will not create a new boundary but it will definitely create a new economic policy".

To another query, the Minister ruled out any possibility of holding plebiscite in Manipur under the aegis of the United Nations as propounded by the banned UNLF.

He said, "It is simply not negotiable and out of question".

However, the Government has been working out the modalities to invite all UG groups for political dialogue.

Regarding India's Look East Policy, he remarked that North East is politically and geographically integrated with India but economically with South East Asia.

The free trade of all legalised items available at the border town of Moreh will be enforced from the current year.

For further development of the Indo-Myanmar trade through Moreh, the Centre has plans to set up a modern integrated customs building at an estimated cost of Rs 70 crores at Moreh.

The Union Minister also promised to provide subsidy on freight charges of horticulture products to State farmers while the transporting the goods from the State to Guwahati, Delhi and Kolkata.

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