Bandh welcomes PM's visit to Manipur

Imphal, Nov 30 (UNI) Security has been beefed up and preparations are being carried out on war-footing for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Manipur on December 2 even as different organisations have called a bandh to protest the government's proposal to construct the Tipaimukh multi-purpose dam at Churachandpur district.

The bandh, from 1800 hrs on December 1 to 1800 hrs on December 2, has been called by the Action Committee against the Tipaimukh Project (ACTIP), Committee Against Tipaimukh Dam (CATD), United Naga Council, All Naga Students' Association, Manipur, Naga Peoples' Movement for Human Rights and the Naga Women Union, Manipur.

The Manipur government has urged the Prime Minister to lay the foundation stone for the Rs 7000 crore project to be undertaken by North East Electric Power Corporation (NEPCO).

The organisations also announced that the ongoing economic blockade on two National Highways-39 and 53 will also be intensified. They demanded scrapping of the MoU signed between the state and the centre on the dam.

Meanwhile, the Manipur government was preparing for the visit of the Prime Minister. The Chief Minister who discussed about the visit with the Prime Minister in New Delhi last evening, returned to Imphal today to supervise the preparations.

The government is preparing to organise a public meeting at Kangla, Imphal and at Churachandpur district headquarters on December 2.

The Manipur government has proposed the laying of foundation stones for National Sports Academy, Manipur Institute of Technology and Cultural cum City Convention Centre and Loktak Multipurpose Downstream.

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