IMPHAL, August 7: A two day workshop on “Road connectivity of hill districts” was inaugurated today at the Tribal Research Institute by state Dy Chief Minister Gaikhangam with RD & PR minister Francis Ngajokpa as the functional president and Works minister Dr Kh Ratankumar as guest of honour.
The workshop is being sponsored and organized by the TRI.
Speaking on the occasion, RD & PR minister Francis Ngajokpa said of the total Rs 995 crore sanctioned by the centre for the MGNREGS of the hill districts, Rs 546 crore has been used, while the remaining Rs 449 crore had to be returned to the centre.
The said amount could not be utilized, due to the several interferences from the local bodies including from the ADCs and other organizations, he said.
He said road construction work under PMGSY in the hill districts have been taken up since 2002 and the centre has already sanctioned Rs 577 crore in phases for the said works.
Francis Ngajokpa expressed his opinion and sadness on being unable to fully utilize the funds sanctioned for development as the people were not involved.
He said that the benefits are just for the hills not the valley but the elected members had even boycotted the meetings organized by the Government and also said that connectivity needs co-operation responsibility, courage and sincerity.
However, due to the interferences from several sections, works from Phase V to VIII for which tenders had been conducted in November 2011 amounting to around 200 crore are yet to be taken up, the minister said before adding that unless the fund is utilized by October 2013, it will have to be refunded.
He said the Chief Minister has also taken up steps to ensure that development works are taken up in the hill districts.
He said the state PWD alone cannot bring connectivity, and it needs collective responsibility of the whole society.
State Dy CM Gaikhangam said that road connectivity is important for development, however “mind connectivity” amongst the people of the state is also much needed.
According to a press release of the DIPR, Gaikhangam said that most percentage of the development programs and schemes are given to the hills than the valley as the hills are less developed.
He mentioned the comparison between the past, present and future road system and further continued to say that it is useless to point fingers at each other as the progress of the state is less than other states, said a DIPR press release.
He stressed the need to keep the relationship between the hills and valley with discipline and love and further said that people should appreciate the Department, Government and Agencies of the progress for further development in the state, the DIPR statement said.
Dr Kh Ratankumar, guest of honour, said that the progress and survival of state utterly depends on the road connectivity. The road connectivity is the nervous system and without it, the state will collapse as it happens often when there is NH blockade. He further mentioned that even though the state lacks resources people should work in harmony for its betterment.