IMPHAL, November 14: Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar has today stated that there is no disparity with regard to fund allocation for development works in the hill districts and the valley in the state.
The Minister today led an inspection team to Senapati, Mao Maram today in connection with the coming ASEAN-India car rally.
Speaking to media persons, the Works Minister said even if black topping of the 23 km stretch from Senapati to Mao is not completed by December 15, it is hoped that the whole highway stretch is made “Riding quality”, before the arrival of the rally int he state.
Work along the highway has been continuing since some time back and at present Periodical Repairing of the highway stretch is under process for which the fund was sanctioned on November 3, 2012.
The Minister continued that the implementing agency has been instructed to speed up work after the Ningol Chakkouba festival.
Along the 28 km stretch from Senapati-Maram road, SNK has been reassigned to finish the work in time after a fresh agreement between the company and the government, he said.
SNK was briefly discharged from the works after its failure to complete the work in time and pending court case against the company, he said.
Meanwhile, one of the officials from PWD who accompanied the Minister during the inspection said that the stone crushing plant at Maram Kabuinam has been tested and ready for work.
Two generators and other required machineries for the working of the plant are in place.
Work on the Stone Crushing Plant will be started after the Ningol Chakkouba festival, he informed media persons.
Meanwhile, on asked about the Imphal Jiribam stretch, the Minister replied that the highway is not his department’s concern as the department is concern for only 3.2 km of the highway while the entire remaining Imphal-Jiribam highway is under the BRO.
Furthermore, on the UNC allegations regarding the lopsided release of Cheque Drawal Authority and non providing of funds for development works in the hill districts as reported by several local dailies, the Minister clarified that the government is not bias in funds allotment to hill and valley districts.
The Minister continued that the present Cheque Drawal Authority is for the works taken up under SPA 2010-11 by the Works department and the same is as per physical progress of the works taken up.
He continued the department has provided a sum of Rs 6335 lakhs out of Rs 12835 lakhs for SPA road works to the five hill districts which is 49.357 percent of the total fund.
The Minister was also accompanied by Principal Secretary (works), Ram Muivah, Addl Chief Engineer PWD Temba and other engineers and officials concerned with the highway maintenance.
Thongju MLA, Bishorjit also accompanied the Minister during the inspection tour of the highway.