The Chief Minister was speaking at the reception function of IMC councilors elected with Congress tickets. The function was held at the Congress Bhavan, Imphal.
Speaking further at the reception, the Chief Minister said that in order to bring equal development in both the valley and hill districts, the state government has initiated steps to develop medium to big markets in various towns of the hills districts. The markets would be developed with the available fund from the NLCPR and the cost of construction of the markets would be anything between Rs 50 lakhs to Rs 1 crore each depending on the size of the proposed market, he added.
Speaking on the shortage of drinking water in the Imphal area, he stated that his government is trying hard to complete the construction of Maphou Dam before the end of this current year, which will considerably solved the water shortage problem.
He also said that the state government has prepared a DPR for lying water pipeline from Maphou Dam to Imphal. The project is estimated to cost about Rs 600 crore and the Planning Commission of India has already given its nod to go ahead with the mega project, the Chief Minister added.
He also informed about the state government’s planning to acquire 80 hectres of land at Lamdeng, Lamshang to be used for solid waste management before adding that once the project at Lamdeng is completed, solid waste from Imphal city would be easily disposed off which will enable the IMC to speed up its process of cleaning Imphal city.
Touching on the issue of the street vendors, the Chief Minister maintained that the SPF government was compelled to vacate the street vendors from the heart of Imphal city in order to solve the abnormal increase of street vendors and to regulate genuine licence holders.
While appealing to the newly elected IMC councilors, the Chief Minister has also asked them to work in the interest of the people.
He also expressed hope that the new councilors would work judiciously towards making Imphal more cleaner and greener.
Speaking at the function, MPCC president Gaikhangam expressed his heartiest gratitude to the people for enabling Congress to remain in power for the second successive term both in the state and the IMC.
He also expressed hope that people would elect Congress party to remain in power for the third successive term and further stated his feelings that the party will claim absolute majority in the next assembly election.
He also appealed to the elected leaders (MLAs, councillors) to work towards the welfare of the people for they were elected by the people.
One key objective of the SPF government is to bring harmony and peaceful coexistence among each and every community of both hills and valley areas of the state, the MPCC president recalled.
While expressing regret about inability of the elected councillors of the District Councils to work in hill areas due to disturbances by some vested interest groups, Gaikhangam said it is not a good sign of development.