Chief Minister O Ibobi inaugurating one of the bridges on Wednesday.
Non-completion of projects within deadline a huge burden, says Ibobi
IMPHAL, July 30: State Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh inaugurated an RCC bridge at Chingarel in Khurai constituency constructed over the Iril River, today.
Construction of the bridge with a width of 7.50 metres and a length of 60 metres, began two years ago.
Later in the day, the Chief Minister inaugurated two more bridges, a community hall and an Apparel Training & Design Centre, Vocational Institute.
Speaking at the bridge inauguration ceremony, Ibobi stated that better means of transport and communication is the backbone for a faster and better development.
Moreover, economic conditions will improve with better road connectivity.
Expressing his belief that the Chingaren Bridge will not only provide better connectivity but will also ensure the economic upliftment of the nearby villagers, he commended the concerned authorities for completing the bridge two months ahead of the scheduled time.
Ibobi said that development projects in any place of the State if not completed within a scheduled time by maintaining quality gives a huge burden to the government and extra funds needed to be sanctioned.
Lauding Khurai MLA Dr Ng Bijoy for mounting pressure to maintain quality and complete the construction of the bridge quickly, the Chief Minister urged all the other MLAs to have an eye on the development projects in their constituency for better development and maintaining the quality of the projects.
The DONER ministry under the Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources funded the construction of the bridge. The construction of the bridge began from August 2012 with an estimated cost of Rs six crores.
Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh also inaugurated the newly constructed Saiton Bridge, Kumbi Bridge and Phaougakchao Community Hall at Bishnupur.
Meanwhile, inaugurating the Apparel Training and Design Centre, ATDC at the Trade Centre Building, DIC Complex, Porompat, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi said there is tremendous scope for the fashion industry in the State based on the ethnic designs and motifs.
The inaugural function was also attended by Commerce and Industry minister Govindas Konthoujam, and Apparel Export Promotion Council chairman Virendar Uppal.
The Chief Minister continued that Manipur is home to various ethnic communities having their own traditional attires and textile products with distinctive designs.
He added that Manipur handloom products are also well known in the country as well as abroad.
He further expressed his gratitude to the ATDC team led by chairman Virender Uppal for its initiative in opening the vocational institute at Imphal.
He further said that India is a vast country with a large population and around 500 million youth looking for jobs in the country.
There is a great need to impart appropriate skills to the youths to enable them to get suitable jobs, he added.
The Chief Minister also said that the textile sector is the second largest employment provider segment after Agriculture and engages over 45 million people directly and indirectly in the country.
Textiles apparel industries contribute 14 percent of the national industrial production and 17 percent of the country’s export earnings, Ibobi asserted.
He further said that, he was informed that the ATDC, Imphal has trained and given employment to over 200 youths. Imparting training on apparel and design to the youths is an important means of mitigating the unemployment problems in the state.
Further the CM added that the vocational institute will provide greater opportunity for importing higher skills to the youths by conducting training programmes on designs and technology.
CM assured that the state Government will continue to extend full support to ATDC for its programmes and projects in the state.
He also added that the Institute will play a big role in improving the employment and economic condition of the state.