Manipur CM bats for horticulture projects in hill areas

Imphal, Sep 26 (UNI) Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has urged the Centre to take up specific horticultural schemes in the hills of the state.

The State Information Centre said Mr Ibobi had raised the issue during the two-day Conclave of the Congress ruled States at Nainital recently.

At the conclave where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi and many other dignitaries were present, the Chief Minister said the state had five per cent agricultural land and falls short of 1900 MT of rice every year.

Mr Ibobi Singh drew the Centre's attention to establish the Principal Distribution Centres of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) at the state's district headquarters to fulfil the needs of the people.

The State would borne the expenditure of transportation of these commodities from the district headquarters to the sub-divisional head quarters, he added.

Besides, he proposed the Centre to take up various horticultural schemes at hills to generate more income.

The state Chief Minister informed in the meeting about his efforts to improve the state's security and intelligent networks.

Meanwhile, another meeting was also held to chalk out a strategy for the forthcoming Assembly polls in four States of Uttaranchal, Punjab, Manipur and Uttar Pradesh.

UNI NS PP/SRC1613