In continuation to State Government’s initiative to bring balanced development in the State, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Friday inaugurated 30 developmental projects constructed under different Departments at Tamenglong District. He also laid foundation stones for nine other projects to be taken up at the district.

He and his cabinet colleagues were accorded a warm welcome by Forest and Environment Minister Awangbow Newmai and Deputy Commissioner Armstrong Pame. This was his sixth visit to the district as the Chief Minister.

N. Biren, then, headed to Carpentry Area of the district headquarters and inaugurated the Phase-I of the Water Supply Scheme at Hangoipat by Water Conversation taken up under Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources at a total estimated cost of Rs. 59.68 crore. The project which is taken up under Jal Jeevan Mission has a target to provide the connection to around 2,547 households. The Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of the project during his maiden visit to the district on November 15, 2017. The Phase-II of the Water Supply Scheme is being developed at Joulen in Gadai Range and it is likely to be inaugurated before the onset of monsoon.

Later, the Chief Minister inaugurated 29 other projects at a public function held at Tamenglong Mini-Secretariat. The inaugurated projects which has an estimated total cost of around 17.5 crore rupees included Sadbhana Mandav at Tamei, Rain Water harvesting and Reservoir at Tamei, Langmai Higher Secondary School under School Fagathansi Mission,  50 bedded Boys Hostel at Chiuluan, 17 projects under Multi-Sectoral Development Programme like Additional Class Rooms, PHSC, OT etc, Hospital Equipment and Telemedicine facilities under Hill Area Development Programme (HADP), One Stop Centre, Geriatric Ward at Tamenglong District Hospital Campus, Agro Based (Banana Fibre Processing) Unit under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, Check Post cum Barrack Type Quarter under FCA at Tamenglong Range Office, TRIFED Storage Godown at Tamenglong Forest Range Office and Bailey Bridge (100 ft) over Amang River on the road from Tharon to L. Pabram.       

He also laid the foundation stones for nine other projects with a total estimated cost of around 50 crore rupees including construction of Indoor Sports Auditorium Multipurpose hall at Tamenglong HQs, Boys Hostel at New Tamenglong College Site, Infrastructure for Science and Commerce Stream at new campus of Tamenglong college, Expansion of Mini-Secretariat Road, Bailey Bridge (100 ft) over Marangthang River on the road from T03 NH 53 to T04 under Tousem Block, Bailey Bridge (150 ft) over Irang River on IT road Makui Golai to Lasan, Road from L 025 (Oktan to Nurathel), Road from L 028-T02 to Kahulong and 33/11 Kv sub-station at Khongjaron (2×5 MVA).

Addressing the gathering, N. Biren Singh stated that “Go to Hills” Mission was announced in his maiden speech as a Chief Minister on March 15, 2017, the day on which a new Government was formed in the State. The Mission was introduced to bridge the gap between hill and valley regions and bring balanced development in the state.

The Chief Minister said that the Water Supply Scheme at Hangoipat was constructed under the Prime Minister’s Jal Jeevan Mission which aims to provide safe and adequate drinking water to every household in the country by 2024. He added that the Government would try to inaugurate the Water Supply Scheme at Joulen in Gadai Range by April this year after which every household in Tamenglong District would get access to safe drinking water. He further expressed thankfulness to the people of the district for their heartfelt supports and contributions in the Government’s efforts to complete the projects.

He further stated that he had wished to construct a water supply project, a football ground at Tamenglong, proper road from Tamenglong to Khongshang ever since he was the Sports Minister. He assured that the Government would construct an Astroturf or natural grass football ground at district headquarters.

Stating on the necessities of timely review on the work progress of projects being taken up, he urged the Government officials to take into consideration the availability of engineering capabilities, manpower and expertise among others, before seeking approval for any projects from the Centre, in order to get the projects completed on time. He also asked the concerned authority to regularly review the ongoing projects.

Appreciating the far-sighted vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his timely initiative to help produce COVID vaccines, N. Biren informed that more than 2 million people had been vaccinated till date. He also maintained that the active cases of COVID-19 in the State had also considerably decreased and it was possible due to the contribution of the people of the State by strictly complying with Covid Appropriate Behaviours.

He stated that Tamenglong is no more an underdeveloped district. It is now being developed at par with other districts in different sectors including education sector, women markets and water supply schemes among others and many other projects had also been taken up under MOBC. He also stressed on the importance of HADP to bring equal development in hill and valley regions and the need for topographically based allocation of budget considering requirements of more capitals for projects taken up in hill areas as compared to that of valley areas. He lauded the officials of Tamenglong District Administration for being practical and work oriented.

He informed that the Union Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari had agreed in principle to construct a ring road in the State provided if the locals along the road don’t demand land compensation. He further stated that an amount of five crore rupees had been sanctioned to construct children park in Tamenglong District. He asked the District authorities to provide land for construction of the park and assured that the construction of the same would be completed within this year.

 Stating that construction for 47 Primary Health Sub Centres in the State under MOBC had been sanctioned, he informed that out of the 47 PHSCs, seven would be constructed in the district. He also said that Bunning Wildlife Sanctuary had been included in the North East Circuit Tourism Project. Two ambulances and one recovery vehicle would also be provided to the district soon, he added.

Earlier, the Chief Minister reviewed the status of different projects and schemes being implemented in the district through a PowerPoint presentation shown by Deputy Commissioner Armstrong Pame. The Chief Minister also released a video on Tamenglong Tourism.

Later in the afternoon, the Chief Minister chaired a State Cabinet meeting. With a view to give relief to power consumers and in consideration of availing infrastructure grant of Rs. 40.68 crores from Government of India, the Cabinet approved for the reduction in tariff for Loktak Downstream Hydroelectric Project from Rs. 4.38 to Rs. 4.14 per unit.

The Cabinet also approved the compassionate appointment of Laishram Biyapati Chanu w/o Late N. Binoy Meetei, ASI, NDRF who had recently died on duty at Dzuko forest fire. Continuing the State’s policy of giving due recognition to deserving sportspersons who have excelled in various national and international fora, the Cabinet also approved the promotion of Km. L. Anita Chanu, Coach (Weighlifting) to the post of Assistant Director (Sports Promotion) for her outstanding achievement in the field of weightlifting. She is the only coach from Manipur to have been awarded the Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Proposal for relaxing eligibility for availing pension scheme membership from 45 to 65 years as a one-time measure under Manipur Working Journalists’ Pension (Amendment) Rules, 2014 was also approved.

The Cabinet further considered and approved for the introduction of various bills in the ensuing session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly covering areas such as Public Service Delivery, Industrial Single Window Clearance System and taxation matters, amongst others. It also approved for manpower strengthening for land records modernization in the Revenue Department.

It may be mentioned that Friday’s Cabinet Meeting was the second held in Tamenglong District under the State Government’s “Go to Hills” Mission.