IMPHAL, Aug 1: Dubbed as one of the most backward districts of the State, Tamenglong has been reeling under a non-functioning Secretariat resulting in a serious impediment to economic growth and development.
The District Secretariat Complex located at Farmlane, Tamenglong was inaugurated on November 3, 2011 by then Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in the presence of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi and Cabinet Ministers, MLAs and high ranking State officials.
The purpose of the Mini Secretariat was to look into the overall progress and monitor the entire administrative affairs of the district. Four years after its inauguration, there is no sign of work activity in the Mini Secretariat. It was learnt that numerous memoranda were submitted to the authorities concerned including the Chief Minister to relocate district administrative offices and the district level officers to the Mini Secretariat Complex and discharge their duties efficiently.
Vice president of the Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) David Kamei, highlighting a brief history of the District Secretariat complex, said that the foundation stone of the complex was laid by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi along with then Power Minister Gaikhangam. It was built with an estimated cost Rs 36 crore by Axial Builders owned which is operated by MLA of Tamenglong AC Janghemlung Panmei.
The Mini Secretariat was to house various district level officers of the State Government and work earnestly for the welfare of the people. Unfortunately, the Secretariat complex which was inaugurated four years back is suffering from lack of proper accommodation facilities, he added.
ZYF has also repeatedly served memoranda to the authorities concerned to relocate the district administrative offices and other allied offices to the District Secretariat complex and work in co-ordination. While the Deputy Commissioner of the district has also served notices to the DLOs of various departments to relocate to the Mini Secretariat complex, the DLOs have raised objection to the notices due to lack of basic infrastructure. Unless the State Government takes a concrete step regarding the matter, ZYF along with other CSOs will launch a series of protest in the larger interest of the people, David said. Meanwhile former Minister from Tamenglong AC Samuel Jendai also alleged that the State Government has failed to implement their slogan of equal development in hill districts and valley of Manipur. State Government’s perpetual negligence and habitual contradiction of its own promises have obstructed every aspect of development of Tamenglong district, he added.
