IMPHAL, May 16: Chief Minister O Obobi Singh has reaffirmed the stand of the state government on the issue of street venders who were recently shifted to Lamphel this morning by saying, “even God would find it difficult to provide vending spaces in Khwairamband bazaar to each and every vendor who comes along from different part of the state”.The state Chief Minister was attending the flag hoisting programme of Congress candidate of ward No 27 of Uripok AC in the coming municipal council election, Chongtham Memcha Devi of Lamboi Khongnangkhong this morning.Further speaking at the function, the Chief Minister stated that the Congress led SPF government in the state has been adopting various programmes and schemes considering the economic plights of the daily wage earners, however the recent eviction of the street vendors from the Khwairamband bazaar area was taken up considering the developmental programmes taken up by the state government in Imphal city. He also expressed his displeasure that the past governments had allotted licences to vendors along both sides of the busy Nagamapal and BT roads. Considering all this mistakes of the past governments, the present SPF government has taken up various measures which will further help in expanding the city which has become too congested, the CM added.Speaking further during the flag hoisting programme, he added that as a part of the various development programmes taken up by the SPF government, the existing Assembly complex at the heart of Imphal city will be shifted to the under construction Assembly complex at Chingmeirong.He further stated that the existing Indira park will be expanded after shifting the present Assembly complex to its new complex as apart of Imphal city beautification process.Meanwhile further speaking on the SPF government’s policy for beautification of Imphal city, he stated that the government is mulling over to shift educational institutions including Johnstone Higher Secondary School and Hindi High School to other suitable locations.He also mentioned that, as per the policy of the state government the progress for the installation of a solid waste management at Lamshang is in progress with the state government starting to buy the required machineries for the early functioning of the project.He further mentioned that the state government in consideration of the various inconvenience created around the Lamphel area during the rainy seasons, his SPF government is in the process of acquiring machineries costing around Rs 4-5 lakhs to help the area during the season. And finally the Chief Minister further mentioned that, the state government has its policy to remove the existing Power house at Keishampat and the place will be utilized as a common parking zone.The Chief Minister further briefed that all steps taken up by the Congress led SPF government is to develop and maintain Imphal city into a developed city, which has also become a must as Imphal city is included amongst the selected mission city to be developed by the government of India.Meanwhile, the flag hoisting celebration was also attended by MLA, L Nandakumar of Uripok Assembly Constituency and MLA W Brajabidhu of Lamshang AC.
