Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday said that normal life activities were affected and many development work got stalled due to the crisis, however, normalcy is returning and development and progress of the state should not be stopped from now onwards.
CM Biren was speaking at the inauguration of the Institute of Driving Training and Research Centre at Top Dusara, Imphal East under the ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
“The crisis in Manipur has already been identified to be a war waged against the Indian Union, and so the people should support the steps taken up by the Centre and the state to safeguard the state from all forces trying to disintegrate Manipur,” he said.
The Centre and the state governments are taking all responsibilities and they are there to protect the people. “We must also ensure that the people are continuing with their normal lives like students going to their schools and colleges, farmers going to their fields, shops being opened, etc,” he said.
The people and officials of the state government have to work harder and pick up the working pace to make up for the lost times. The state was moving forward and hosting events like the Femina Miss India, international football tournaments, G-20 events, foreign investors lining up to invest in the state, he added.
Human lives are highly precious and that loss of lives due to accidents are extremely shocking, but the Institute of Driving Training and Research Centre will certainly help reduce the number of accidents in the state, he said.
A major cause for accidents in the state is the lack of technical knowledge of driving in people driving vehicles, he said, and stressed on the need to follow proper traffic rules and regulations, he added.
He explained a few facilities available in the institute and said that the opening of the institute will also help in proper issuance of driving licenses.
He said the Transport department should also see that the IDTRC take a major role in authorization of driving licenses.
Meanwhile, the chief minister had also attended separate Ground breaking functions of ‘Rejuvenation of Lamphelpat Water Body of Alleviate Urban Flooding, Providing Sustainable Water Source for Imphal City and Promoting Eco-Tourism’ and ‘Integrated Sewerage System for City of Imphal Phase-II’ at Lamphelpat.
Speaking at the ground breaking function of Rejuvenation of Lamphelpat Water Body of Alleviate Urban Flooding, Providing Sustainable Water Source for Imphal City and Promoting Eco-Tourism organised by the Water Resources Department (WR), Biren said it is a long due dream of all people of the state.
The project will be taken up under the New Development Bank at a Project Cost of around Rs 650 crore with project duration of four years, he said adding that heavy machinery required has reached the site, the chief minister said.
He appealed to the people of the state, especially the surrounding areas to cooperate and support the project and help the government in restoring Lamphelpat to its past glory.
Already 443 acres of land have been acquired and the government is trying to acquire some more from the RIMS, he said.
“We have to show that despite having so many difficulties, Manipur has overcome everything,” he said, asserting the need for everyone including ministers, MLAs, government officials to work day and night as a team.
He said the Integrated Sewerage System for City of Imphal Phase-II has a project cost of around Rs 1,255 crore and he added that the government is committed to properly preserve nature and at the same time taking up developmental projects.
PHE minister L Sushindro said that under phase-II the project will be expanded to more localities and will also include construction of pump houses and laying of pipelines among others. He further sought cooperation of the people in the implementation of the project.
The programme was attended by ministers, MLAs and officials.
