Tedim line to be expanded in November

Talking to The Sangai Express today on the sideline of inspecting the black topping work along Tiddim line currently being carried out, the Minister explained that construction/repairing works of the roads have been delayed following onset of rainy season.

For expansion of the road from Keishampat to Churachandpur, the Revenue Department has already started taking up necessary measures.

From Keishampat to Airport, the total width of the road would be 120 feet while from the Airport to Churachandpur it would be 100 feet, the Minister informed.

Source: The Sangai Express
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Kuki bodies call Chandel bandh

Imphal, September 30: Decrying disparity in allocation of fund between the Naga and the Kuki inhabited areas and demanding review of the prospective plan of funding pattern under the District Common Fund (DCF) in Chandel district for the period 2007 to 2012, Kuki People’s Forum, Chandel district has decided to call a district wide general strike from 6 pm of October 2 to 6 pm of October 4 if the demand is not considered.

The Forum has also warned of taking recourse to other intense agitations if funding pattern in not reviewed even after the general strike.

Addressing a press conference in this connection at Manipur Press Club here today, Chairman of Kuki People’s Forum, Chandel District Yangkhopao Haokip asserted that there is great disparity in block wise allocation of fund for the period 2007-2012 among the Naga inhabited areas and Kuki inhabited areas in Chandel district.

The District Common Fund is sanctioned under the Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) of the Ministry of Rural Development and the fund is allocated for taking up developmental works at the block level on the basis of a prospective plan.

Supplementing the charges, the Chairman pointed out that while Chandel block alone has allocated a sum of Rs 105 lakhs for the period of 2007-08, no fund have been allocated for Chakpikarong, Machi, Tengnoupal and Khengjoi blocks. For the period of 2008-2009, Rs 154 lakhs has been allocated to Chandel block, Rs 48 lakhs to Chakpikarong, Rs 8 lakhs to Machi block and Rs 27 lakhs to Tengnoupal block but nothing to Khengjoi block.

For 2009-2010, Rs 97 lakhs has been allocated to Chandel block, Rs 78 lakhs to Chakpikarong block, Rs 3 lakhs to Machi Block, Rs 47 to Tengnoupal Block and Rs 6 lakhs to Khengjoi Block.

For the period 2010-2011, the fund allocation of Chandel block is Rs 133 lakhs, Rs 24 lakhs for Chakpikarong block, Rs 5 lakhs for Machi block and Rs 47 lakhs for Tengnoupal Block but no fund has been allocated for Khengjoi block.

The fund allocation for the period 2011-2012 are repetitively Rs 142, Rs 7 lakhs, Rs 10 lakhs, Rs 74 lakhs and Rs 5 lakhs for Chandel, Chakpikarong, Machi, Tengnoupal and Khengjoi block.

The Chairman said such disparity in allocation of the fund smacks of a conspiracy to deprive the development rights of the Kuki people and so Kuki People’s Forum would not be able to accept the prospective plan on whose basis the fund has been allocated.

A memorandum in this regard had been submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of Chandel on August 30 last.

However, no response has been ever received till date, the Chairman rued.

In the said memorandum, the Kuki People’s Forum had raised three main demands.

The demands are review of the prospective plan of BRGF-DCF funding pattern for the period 2007-1012, inclusion of Kuki People’s Forum by District Planning Committee, Chandel district in the planning process and to ensure equal distribution of fund among the blocks.

Source: Imphal Free Press