Manipur CM moots idea of proper funding to complete ongoing projects

Imphal, Nov 20 (UNI) Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has urged the North Eastern Council to reassess the requirement of ongoing schemes as per the progress and target set for completion.

He further stressed the need of providing sufficient funds for timely completion.

The Manipur Information Centre officials said during the 53rd NEC meeting in New Delhi, the Chief Minister cited an example that the project for construction of Nursing School and Hostel at Imphal which was completed 70 per cent was being delayed as the allocation for the year 2006-07 and proposed allocation for 2007-08 were insufficient.

The Chief Minister was keen in preservation of Loktak lake in Manipur one of the biggest fresh water lake in Asia. The Chief Minister emphasised the importance of Old Cachar Road from Bishnupur to Rengpang via Khoupum having a total length of 93 Kms.

Ibobi said the NEC should help in upgradation of the roads in the state. The state government had proposed for providing Rs 86 crores for this project during the Eleventh Five Year Plan.

The Chief Minister said in the NE states there was high importance of community participation and involvement for effective implementation of schemes.

He cited the example on NER Community Resource Management Programme, an externally funded project implemented by NEC during Tenth Plan in Manipur, Meghalaya and Assam, having active private participation in the implementation of the programme. The Manipur Chief Minister proposed for expansion of this programme to all the districts of Manipur during the 11th Plan.

Referring to North East Bamboo Mission, he said that the state t had proposed for establishment of Bamboo Technology Park at Jiribam and requested NEC to provide 40 per cent of the cost, remaining 20 per cent to be provided by the entrepreneur.

Regarding handing over of NEC funded autonomous institutions like Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) to the concerned Central Ministries, the Chief Minister said the State Government was agreeable to the suggestion provided the existing administrative mechanism was retained.

This would enable the NEC to redeploy recurring amount spent on RIMS for funding other capital intensive schemes, he added.

UNI NS BA RN1352