He also urged to accord top priority to the Silchar-Imphal 400 KV D/C line for evacuation of power to Imphal from NHPC’s Bongaigaon and ONGC’s Pallatana power projects.
Attending the 60th Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council(NEC) held at Parliament Annexe here on June 16-17, the Governer yesterday, in his speech, also emphasized the need for expediting completion of railway projects in the NE Region to facilitate seamless movement of passengers and goods.
He urged the Railway Board to induct additional machinery and manpower for ensuring that there was no further slippage in the target by 2012 for completing the railway line from Jiribam to Tupul and, to Imphal by 2014.
He narrated that the people of Manipur were looking forward to the day when the trains would run from Jiribam to Imphal and beyond to Moreh, en-route to South East Asian destinations.
Gurbachan Jagat appreciated the North Eastern Council for sanctioning to the state government’s proposals on Strengthening and Continuous Production of Breeder Seed Farm at Mao and Revival of Progeny Orchards aat Maram, Gelzang and Jiribam during 2010-2011.
He hoped that more projects would be sanctioned under the Agri and Allied Sectors during 2011-12. He drew the attention of the North Eastern Council towards International Fund for Agricultural Development funded North East Community Resource Management Project (NERCOMP), implemented in three states namely Manipur, Meghalaya and Assam.
He reported the success of the NERCOMP –I and II pilot projects in two districts of Manipur namely Senapati and Ukhrul, and the state government had proposed to cover another two districts namely Chandel and Churachandpur under the NERCOMP-III.
The Governor of Manipur stated that following elections to the six Autonomous District Councils, the expectations of the hill people had multiplied manifold and urged the Planning Commission and the Ministry of Developmenmt of North Eastern Region (DoNER) to enhance budgetary provision to NEC.
Referring to the Look East Policy, Gurbachan Jagat expressed the State Government’s endeavour to make Moreh in Manipur- the Gateway to South East Asia and sought the Centre’s support to make it posssible. He informed that necessary infrastructure for upgradation of Moreh LCP to ICP gad been sanctioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs and trade agreement had been signed with Myanmar to convert border trade to normal trade. He reported that the State Government’s proposal to start bus services between Imphal and Mandalay continued to pend with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Manipur Governor also hoped the actions plans and expected envisaged in the Master Plan for Promotion of Tourism in the North Eastern Region as per the NER Vision 2020 would be realized with bugetarysupport from the NEC and the Ministry of Tourism to realize the tremendous tourism potential of Manipur.
While appreciating the launching of North Eastern Council Chairman Sports Excellence Award for awarding sportspersons of the North Eastern Region who exceled in international and national competitions; Manipur Governor drew the attention of the Ministry of DoNER for support to Manipur for its establishment of National Football Academy of World Class, National Women Athletic Academy and National Women Boxing Academy.