Imphal, November 11: Persisting with their revolt against the leadership of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, dissident MLAs of the Congress party who are camping at Delhi have asserted that development of Manipur has been at halt under the leadership of Ibobi.

Meanwhile, information received here said after meeting External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee last evening, dissident MLAs today called on Ahmad Patel, who is the Political Advisor of UPA Chairperson and AICC chief Sonia Gandhi in connection with their oust Ibobi campaign even as Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing and FCI Minister Y Erabot rushed to Delhi to join hands with the dissident MLAs.

In a statement issued from Delhi, the spokesperson of the dissident group Y Surchandra Singh said that the UPA Govt has introduced various programmes for development of the country with special focus on development of North Eastern States by opening a separate Ministry DoNER.

Many development projects particularly for Manipur have also been sanctioned.

However, even if there is all round development in other parts of the region, there is no visible impact in the State.

The Rural Health Mission, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, JNNURM and various programmes for rural development in Manipur have become either a total failure or a non-starter because of mishandling and misrule of the Government led by O Ibobi Singh, Surchandra alleged.

There is no sign of administration not only in the hills and remote areas, but also even in the capital city Imphal, he said.

Recalling that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh during his visit to Manipur in 2004 had sanctioned an economic package of Rs 2777.86 crores for various major projects including Jiribam-Tupul Railway Line (Rs 727 crores), Capital Project (Rs 317.54 crore) and Loktak Downstream Hydro-Electric Project (Rs 656.36 crore) for development of Manipur, Surchandra rued that the much awaited and ambitious Capital Project for which the foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister himself in 2004 for construction of Assembly Secretariat, Civil Secretariat, City Convention Hall and High Court remain a total non-starter.

Moreover, the ambitious Bir Tikendrajit flyover has been under construction for over 5 years and it is yet to be completed.

The construction of three major markets at Imphal is also yet to take off inspite of the fact that the required funds have been sanctioned three years ago.

The portion of the National Highway 39, lifeline of the State is in such pathetic condition although a huge amount of fund have been pumped in for the improvement of the road.

As a consequence, the road which is barely 90 kms from Mao to Imphal, takes over 5 hours to travel on it, the spokesperson said, adding that the muddy streets and clogs in and around the State's capital city Imphal are indicators of the prevailing condition in far flung areas.

In the budget speech of the year 2005, the State Governor had announced the long awaited Khuga Multi-purpose Project to be completed by 2006 and Thoubal and Dolaithabi by 2008, and again in 2006 Budget speech, the Khuga Project by May 2006 and Thoubal and Dolaithabi in 2007-08 and again in 2007 Budget speech, Khuga Project by 2007 and Thoubal and Dolaithabi in 2008-09.But there is no sign of completion within the dateline.

Continuing the tirade against the leaders of Ibobi, Surchandra said the administration under Ibobi is centralised and there is no transparency.

The Ibobi led Government has no vision and mission.

Inspite of the being the Chief Minister continuously for six year, no vision document for development of the State could be placed before the people.

There is no direction and commitment and people are kept in the dark, Surchandra said.

Stating that for the 2007-08 Annual Plan of Manipur, the Planning Commission approved an outlay of Rs 1374.31 crore and the revised outlay was Rs 1420.14 crore, spokesperson of the dissident group pointed out that as on October 1, 2007, only about Rs 132 crore was spend, which is less than 10 percent.

The progress of expenditure in key sectors like Rural Development, Minor Irrigation, Roads and Bridges, Public Works (PAB) and education are less than 5 percent.

Is it paving the way for rush of expenditure at the fag end and for misutilisation of fund without works being done ?, Surchandra questioned.

Under the existing circumstances, a close watch and direct monitoring by the Centre is called for if the welfare of the people are to be protected, Surchandra said.

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