IMPHAL, July 15: Inner Manipur MP Dr Thokchom Meinya today sought funds to maintain a dedicated security for each of the national projects sanctioned in the North Eastern Region.
According to a statement from the MP’s PA, Meinya had stated in Parliament during a general discussion on the Railway Budget, 2014-15 that the budget was an ordinary and a very normal budget.
He said before the Parliament that the budget was a perfectly non-balanced budget and that he stands to oppose the budget, according to a statement from the MP’s office.
Speaking on region specific railway projects, he said that the proposed projects in NE region for providing connectivity to State capitals of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram are yet to see the light of the day.
Further according to the statement, he continued that in 2004, the UPA government had sanctioned the Jiribam-Tupul (Imphal) Rail Project and the foundation stone was laid at Jirighat by the then Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh in 2004.
The statement said that the MP had highlighted that the project was initially targeted to be completed by 2010, but was extended in the first instance to 2012 then to 2014 and now to 2016, and added that the target has been extended to 2022.
Citing that the reason for this delay as well as the delay in the work of Lamding-Silchar gause conversion are attributed to the adverse law and order situation in these areas, he had further highlighted that the ministry has not taken up the matter with the authorities concerned for providing necessary security coverage for these projects.
He continued for the government and the Home Ministry that funds to maintain a dedicated security to each of the national projects sanctioned in the region be considered and implemented, according to the statement.
Meanwhile, replying to a supplementary to a star question raised by th MP, regarding the cancellation of the Imphal-Silchar regular flight, Ashok Gajapathi Raju had said that the government is very concerned with connectivity, particularly in the North East.
The Civil Aviation Minister had replied that there are a few problems that have cropped up because the commitments of the North East Council were not implemented in the Viability Gap Funding, he said before adding “Once those things are sorted out, I am sure, connectivity will be restored and we want to restore it as soon as possible.” Thokchom Meinya had asked whether the operation of the flight, from Imphal to Silchar, will be resumed.