Day: August 28, 2015

IMPHAL, August 28: The 17th Foundation Day of United People`™s Front (UPF), Manipur was celebrated today at Manipur Press Club under the theme `Dignified Existence`™.

Speaking as chief guest, president of AMWJU Wangkhemcha Shyamjai stated that there should be mutual understanding and love among the people to maintain peace and tranquillity in the State.

There is no such thing like Meitei land, Kuki land, Naga land or Meitei Pangal land as motherland Manipur belongs to one and all irrespective of caste, creed and religion, he said.

He assured that the State journalists will discharge their duty accordingly for the betterment of the society.

President of UPF Oinam Vikramjit who presided over the function maintained that UPF since its inception has been engaging in core issues pertaining to the State.

He also assured that the front will continue to work for welfare and development of the State.

President of UCM Johnson Elangbam was also present at the occasion as guest of honour.

After the formal function, a panel discussion on `NSCM (IM)-Government of India Framework Agreement` was conducted with W Nabakumar acting as the moderator.

During the discussion, executive director of Human Rights Alert Babloo Loitongbam; director of CPA RK Bobichand and MU professor K Bimolana delivered lecture on the topic.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/17th-foundation-day-of-upf-celebrated/

IMPHAL, August 28: The recent tension in the border town of Moreh was resultant of a huge inefficiency of the Home department which will be highlighted to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, BJYM Manipur president Oinam Malesh said today.

Speaking to media persons, Malesh said it was the bias handling of high ranking officials and the Home minister which intensified the tension.

Law and order in the State is a total failure, he claimed.

Several high ranking police officers have kept the Moreh commandos inactive since the last more than six months, he alleged without naming the officials.

He further condemned Home minister Gaikhangam`™s reported statement that he was unaware of the inactivity of the Commando Unit of Moreh.

Gaikhangam`™s statement reeks of irresponsibility and he should tender his resignation on moral grounds for violation of Article 51 (A) Fundamental duty of the Constitution, Malesh demanded.

He elaborated if Gaikhangam is unaware and has no knowledge of his responsibilities than there is no way law and order is going to improve under him.

BJYM will soon conduct a ground reality check on the biasness of the police officers and their role during the tension and a detailed report will soon be personally submitted to Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

He further demanded that the Home department should take disciplinary action against the bias police officers and in case of a negative response from the concern authority, the BJYM will urge the Union Home Minister to look into the matter.

It is time, Gaikhangam answer about the communal tension in Moreh and the unfortunate incident at Aimol village Ngailon Village.

The BJYM will soon visit these two places, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/bjym-says-home-dept-inefficiency-led-to-moreh-tension/

IMPHAL, August 28: The present condition of the national highways of the State has been of much concern for the State`™s people as both lifelines – National Highway 2 and the National Highway 37 – have remained blocked since the past week or so.

While NH 2 has been cut-off since August 21 due to a major landslide in Nagaland, NH 37 has been blocked due to a damaged Barak Bridge, inaugurated last year in September, since August 25.

Scarcity of petroleum products and other essential commodities have already hit the State due to the cutting off of the two lifelines.

The Manipur Truck Owners`™ Welfare Association has been holding the Border Road Organisation responsible for the dilapidated condition of the Barak Bailey Bridge.

The association today charged the BRO of still neglecting the Barak Bridge and the NH 37, even though the State is totally cut-off from the country.

Speaking to media persons at their MG Avenue office, president of the association H Ranjit said considering the difficulties faced in the present scenario, MTOWA has decided to take initiatives to repair the old Barak Bailey Bridge on its own and could complete the work in two days if the PWD and the BRO allow.

He continued it is unfortunate that an assistant engineer of the 83 Road Construction Company of the BRTF had reportedly claimed that it will take another 12 more days to repair the Barak Bridge.

Even if the engineer had claimed 12 more days to complete the work, there is no picture of work being initiated to repair the bridge till date, he said.

This is a clear evidence of the charges that the BRO thinks of only profit making from the contract works of NH 37 and not in quality control of their works along the highway he snapped.

Enquiring about the reasons for the delay in starting the repairing of the bridge, he said whether it was because the BRO had no spare part or lack of manpower and machinery?

The BRO has never sought help from the transporters on the issue, although we are ready to help Ranjit continued.

In such a scenario, the MTOWA has decided to take initiatives to repair the old Barak Bailey Bridge on its own and fix it to top condition he added.

He said MTOWA can complete the work in two days if the PWD and the BRO allow it to take the initiative.

He said transporters consider the Imphal-Jiribam highway a safer route than NH 2 where they have to pay more taxes to UG groups.

The Manipur government also never takes the NH 37 as an important route until something happens at NH 2.

The government and the PWD must clarify before the public about the huge sums of fund sanctioned by the Centre for improvement and development of the highway, he continued.

The BJP had recently divulged the amount of fund sanctioned for improvement of the road which is huge and more than enough for a facelift of the highway, however, there is not much change, he claimed.

He further appealed to the politicians not to politicise development of the NH 37.

Ranjit said we are aware of certain politicians who are working with the BRO and trying to earn political milestone.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/transporters-body-ready-to-repair-old-barak-bailey-bridge-in-two-days/

IMPHAL, August 28: The State cabinet decided today to send a proposal to the Central government to provide special packages to mitigate the loss incurred in the recent flood which affected large parts of the State including both in the hill and valley districts.

A cabinet meeting convened today minutely discussed the Flood Damage Report (FDR) prepared by the Public Works Department (PWD) on the losses incurred in the recent floods.

The meeting chaired by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh began at 4 pm at the CM`s Secretariat.

Elaborating on the cabinet meeting, CAF & PD and Education minister Moirangthem Okendro who is also the government`™s spokesperson said that the recent devastated floods washed away several important bridges at Heirok Constituency, Thoubal district and Chakpikarong Bridge in Chandel district.

He informed that the meeting also approved to extend retirement period of doctors under Manipur Health Services (MHS) to 62 years from 60 taking into account the shortage of specialist doctors in the State.

The required strength of MHS Specialist Grade I, II, III and IV doctors in the State is 2203, he said.

However, there is only 1130 specialist doctors at present, the minister informed.

Stating that around 45 doctors in the State retire each year making it hard to fill up the vacant posts, Okendro said that the retirement period of doctors in West Bengal and Odisha has been increased to 62 years and 65 years in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

He went on to inform that the Cabinet meeting also approved creation of 43 posts of Assistant Election Supervisor (AES) in State Election Department to increase its workforce.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/cabinet-decides-to-seek-central-aid-for-recent-floods/