Francis assesses Ukhrul ring road work
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 17 2012: RD&PR Minister Francis Ngajokpa today conducted a field tour of Ukhrul district headquarters in connection with the Government's plan to construct a ring road around the town.

Talking to media persons during the field survey tour, Francis Ngajokpa said that the new road project would be taken up with funding from PMGSY.

Observing that the population of Ukhrul district Hqs has grown manifold, Francis highlighted the need to expand and develop the existing roads of the town.

Expansion of roads would entail eviction and re-construction and a huge expenditure which would also be a time consuming process.

Taking due note of the poor connectivity on the eastern side of Ukhrul district headquarters, Francis stated that necessary procedures would be initiated soon to construct circle type road on this side which would ultimately connect it with the roads on the eastern side to form a ring road around the district Hqs.

Francis Ngajokpa on the tour

For this project, relevant officials have been instructed to conduct necessary survey within the next couple of days.

Once the survey is conducted, DPRs would be prepared.

The Government has already set a target of executing the same project under phase 10 of PMGSY.

To a query raised by the reporters, the RD&PR Minister said that he has received many proposals about enhancing road connectivity in different parts of Ukhrul district.

But due processes were initiated to improve road connectivity, many controversies and disagreements cropped up.

As such, the Government has decided to drop off any plan to improve connectivity in such controversial areas.

The Minister's entourage included MLAs Preshow Shimray, Victor Keishing, RD&PR Principal Secretary, Director and other subordinate officers.

In the course of his field assessment tour, Francis Ngajokpa also convened a meeting with district level officers of Ukhrul district at the guest house located at district Hqs.

MLAs Victor Keishing and Preshow Shimray, the DC and the SP were also present at the meeting.

The meeting deliberated on the inability of the authorities to provide seasonal crop seeds and machinery to farmers in time despite availability of vast land for agricultural purposes.

Francis Ngajokpa said that the reports he received so far about implementation of MGNREGS in Ukhrul district were satisfactory.

Nevertheless, he assured befitting action in case any one was swindling public fund from the material component of the scheme.

The meeting was followed by another meeting with civil society leaders and village chiefs where Francis Ngajokpa and the two MLAs assured that all the shortfalls of the district would be addressed in phase wise manner in consultation with the Government.