By : A Staff Reporter 12/1/2007 1:34:50 AM
IMPHAL, Nov 30: Chief minister O Ibobi Singh, who is currently facing a serious revolt from his party MLAs, fainted towards the concluding part of his address during the inauguration today of the Bir Tikendrajit flyover in the heart of the city.
A press communiqué issued later by the secretary to the chief minister said the CM was fine, and attributed his collapse today to the fact that he had been running a slight temperature since yesterday and had been irregular in his diet.
“The slight deterioration in the health of the chief minister during the inaugural function of the BT flyover has been brought under control,” the communiqué said, adding results of tests carried out by doctors were all normal.
Ministers, MLAs, former ministers and top officials present in the function including the Governor himself rushed to attend the chief minister when he collapsed just as he concluded his address to the gathering. His wife and MLA Landoni was also there at that time participating in the function.
The chief minister was unconscious for about five minutes. He was later transported in an ambulance to his bungalow, where he was attended by doctors.
Later, the people gathered for the function were informed that he was out of danger and was taking rest at his bungalow.
Earlier, the chief minister was at the side of the Governor of Manipur, Dr SS Sidhu when the latter formally dedicated the BT Flyover to the people of Manipur. He also took a walk up the length of the flyover with the Governor, and appeared to be normal at the time, though somewhat ill-at-ease.
Halfway during his address to the gathering as the president of the function, his voice became steadily weaker, and just after he gave the final salutation, ‘Jai Hind,’ he fainted into the arms of his security officer.
His sudden collapse momentarily stunned the crowd, which made a rush towards the podium but were prevented by security personnel. Some of the more emotional in the crowd were seen to be weeping.
Earlier, in his address, the chief minister, Ibobi Singh spoke of the efforts being made by his government for all round development in the state and the future plan for beautification of Imphal city under various schemes and projects.
The chief minister promised to make Imphal city one of the cleanest and most beautiful cities of the country by March next year. He said the concerned departments have been given instructions to complete the ongoing work of the Imphal sewerage project, as well as the task of laying underground telephone and power cables at the earliest, after which all the major roads would be blacktopped. He added that a site has been chosen at Lamdeng for disposal of all of Imphal city’s sewage and garbage.
He said, “60% of the total plan allocation of the state are being utilizied in the development programmes in other districts while 40% is being used for the development of the city and towns areas”.
Frequent bandhs, blockades, and disturbances from unwanted elements have however delayed the completion of the development works, he lamented.
It may be mentioned that the flyover which was inaugurated today also faced the same fate as it suffered a delay of two years to complete. The ground work for the construction was started in March 2003 and the original date for completion of the project was fixed as March 2005, but later the target was re-fixed as June 2005. In the end the main part of the flyover was completed only in January this year.
The construction was undertaken by M/s Buildworth Private Ltd, Guwahati, under the National Buildings Construction Corporation, NBCC, within the sanctioned cost of Rs. 2492.95 lakhs.
The chief minister, in his address, also mentioned that it was decided to make the flyover a two-lane one rather than four-lane, and also not to include any footpath as it would have taken up too much space, and required more evictions.
The inauguration function which was begun at 9.45 am, continued after the brief break caused due to the chief minister’s sudden collapse, with state Assembly Speaker, S Budhachandra Singh taking Ibobi’s place as president of the function.
The Manipur Governor, Dr SS Sidhu, while addressing the public wished for quick improvement to the chief minister’s health. His health may have been deteriorated due to overwork, the Governor observed.
“He (chief minister) is very committed and hard working. I wish he will get relief soon. We need to have such a man to bring forward the state,” the Governor SS Sidhu said.
================================================================
Hill MLAs deny they are campaigning for Ibobi
By : A Staff Reporter 12/1/2007 1:33:21 AM
IMPHAL, Nov 30: The 10 independent MLAs from the hill constiuenies who were reported to have gone to New Delhi to counter-lobby for the continuance of chief minsiter Okram Ibobi as CLP leader, denied this was their agenda at all.
Two of the MLAs the IFP was able to speak to said they were there to campaign with Central leaders to use their influence to have the tribal area sub-plan cleared, have election to the district council and also to have the 6th Scheduled introduced in the hill districts.
The MLAs said they have sought appointment with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and All India Congress Committee, AICC, president Sonia Gandhi, but have not been intimated when they might be given audience.
Asked to comment on the news reports in local dailies today, they said it was unfounded speculation and absolutely baseless. “We have no business to join in the Congress family tussle”, Morung Mokunga, one of the independent MLAs now in New Delhi told IFP over the phone when contacted.
It may be recalled many local newspapers reported in today’s edition of their publications that 10 hill based MLAs, including the six sponsored by the United Naga Council, UNC, had flown in to New Delhi to campaign with the Central leaders to ensure that Ibobi remains chief minister no other chief ministers as had shown a keener interest in bringing about development in the hills than him.
The newspapers also speculated the MLAs’ aim was to counter, and undermine the campaign by Congress party dissidents who have been camping in New Delhi for Ibobi’s ouster.
=======================================================================
Area upto Tuitung cleared of militants: SF
By : A Staff Reporter 12/1/2007 1:32:28 AM
IMPHAL, Nov 30: In ongoing operations in the Samtal area of Chandel district, security forces have as of today cleared the area upto Tuitung village of underground presence, scalping a UG cadre in the process, according to a statement issued by the PRO, HQ, IGAR (South).
The unidentified UG cadre was killed in an encounter with the troops of the 10 JAKLI in the area of Tuitung village this morning at around 6:50 am, and an AK-47 rifle has been recovered, the statement said without giving further details of the incident.
The statement added that two UG hideouts have been busted during the operations today, but as the morale of UG cadres is in a bad state, they vacated and fled.
It said 13 more IEDs were recovered and destroyed in situ while securing the Tuitung area, bringing the total number of IEDs found since the operations began on November 18 to 79. The road has been opened using dozers till Phailen, it added.
In the ongoing operations, it further informed, till now seven villages have been cleared of the UG presence, giving a big relief to the civil population.
The IGAR (South), along with commander, 26 sector Assam Rifles visited Sehlon village, and personally directed the operation of the Assam Rifles troops, the statement added.
In other operations, troops of the 18 AR, manning a checkpoint at milestone 394 on NH-39 nabbed a UNLF activist from a Tata Sumo travelling from Moreh to Imphal, identified as Paramjit alias Thangal.
Another UNLF cadre was also nabbed yesterday by 21 AR personnel from Hiyanglam Mayai Leikai, identified as one Elangbam Pangthokpa, alias Sanayaima, 24. A PULF member, identified as Md Mojibur Rahman, 35, was also nabbed by the 32 AR from the Lilong Terenmakhong area.
==================================================================
Finally, BT Flyover inaugurated O Ibobi at his witty best before dramatic collapse, now stable
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 30 : The much dealyed Bir Tikendra-jit Flyover was formally dedicated to the public by the Governor, Dr SS Sidhu this morning, though the celebration was diluted by the sudden collapse of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi after delivering his address.
Before the deterioration to his health, which forced him to take a premature leave, the Chief Minister had promised that the flyover was the beginning in the transformation of Imphal into a modern and model city.
Work for the flyover, which was built by the National Buildings Construc- tion Cooperation, under funding from the Ministry of Urban development began as early as 2003. However, the bulk of the construction took place from end of 2005 to 2006 and was finally completed in January this year.
Despite the time extension, Zonal -in-charge NBCC, KP Ghosh expressed satisfaction that the construction was fulfilled within the earmarked construction cost of Rs 2492.95 lakhs. The construction agencies were M/s Buildworth Pvt. Ltd, Guwahati for the flyover and M/s H Mangilal Singh for R.C.C Pavement and Drain.
Ibobi described the public dedication as a proud moment for the State and expressed confidence that it will ease traffic in the congested commercial areas of Imphal. He lauded the NBCC for its commendable work despite the need for repeated mobilisaiton of its work force, disarrayed by long halts.
He ascribed the long delay in the construction to time loss from frequent bandhs and blockades and short working seasons due to long monsoon. In addition, the culture of inter- ference from unwanted elements was a big hurdle, he added.
Obstinate shopkeepers and women vendors, who harried the Government with litigation and other obstructing process halted the project for more than a year, he said. The market could be shifted to the present location, formerly belonging to the district hospital only after the Govt silenced their objection with force, he recounted.
Besides, the raw materials, chiefly sand which had to be procured from Dimapur and Assam, were brought from outside Mani-pur, Ibobi said implying the lengthy and time consuming procedure needed in acquiring them.
Outlining the need for complete makeover of the market, Ibobi appealed to the owners of buildings (Ngari shops ) on the west of Laxmi Bazar to comply with the Govt desire to occupy their land for the development of the market. He said, they will be adequately compensated and rightfully allocated plots in the new shopping centres.
On the other hand, he showed his intentions to inaugurate the market complexes of Nupi Keithel by March next year, install a garbage disposal unit and sparkle the dusty streets of Imphal with bituminous coatings very soon. Excavation works on the roads carried out by PHED, Power, BSNL among others are being jointly monitored on a weekly basis and the PWD will take up the repair works as soon as possible, for which money will be no constraint, he added.
Governor Dr Sidhu urged the Imphal Municipality to mop up its activities, to prevent the commercial hub from becoming a sore thumb. On the developmental works taken up the SPF Government, he stated that such projects provides employment opportunities and livelihood to the people of the State. Manipur is lagging other States in respect of overall development, and the efforts of the Government for enhancements of developmental progress has to be reinforced by the people, he said. Ghosh asserted that though two-lane flyovers are a rarity, the bridge is a fantastic piece of technical superiority and assured that all aspects of the flyover are in compliance with the guidelines of the Indian Road Congress.
Source: The Imphal Free Press & The Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Nov 30: Chief minister O Ibobi Singh, who is currently facing a serious revolt from his party MLAs, fainted towards the concluding part of his address during the inauguration today of the Bir Tikendrajit flyover in the heart of the city.
A press communiqué issued later by the secretary to the chief minister said the CM was fine, and attributed his collapse today to the fact that he had been running a slight temperature since yesterday and had been irregular in his diet.
“The slight deterioration in the health of the chief minister during the inaugural function of the BT flyover has been brought under control,” the communiqué said, adding results of tests carried out by doctors were all normal.
Ministers, MLAs, former ministers and top officials present in the function including the Governor himself rushed to attend the chief minister when he collapsed just as he concluded his address to the gathering. His wife and MLA Landoni was also there at that time participating in the function.
The chief minister was unconscious for about five minutes. He was later transported in an ambulance to his bungalow, where he was attended by doctors.
Later, the people gathered for the function were informed that he was out of danger and was taking rest at his bungalow.
Earlier, the chief minister was at the side of the Governor of Manipur, Dr SS Sidhu when the latter formally dedicated the BT Flyover to the people of Manipur. He also took a walk up the length of the flyover with the Governor, and appeared to be normal at the time, though somewhat ill-at-ease.
Halfway during his address to the gathering as the president of the function, his voice became steadily weaker, and just after he gave the final salutation, ‘Jai Hind,’ he fainted into the arms of his security officer.
His sudden collapse momentarily stunned the crowd, which made a rush towards the podium but were prevented by security personnel. Some of the more emotional in the crowd were seen to be weeping.
Earlier, in his address, the chief minister, Ibobi Singh spoke of the efforts being made by his government for all round development in the state and the future plan for beautification of Imphal city under various schemes and projects.
The chief minister promised to make Imphal city one of the cleanest and most beautiful cities of the country by March next year. He said the concerned departments have been given instructions to complete the ongoing work of the Imphal sewerage project, as well as the task of laying underground telephone and power cables at the earliest, after which all the major roads would be blacktopped. He added that a site has been chosen at Lamdeng for disposal of all of Imphal city’s sewage and garbage.
He said, “60% of the total plan allocation of the state are being utilizied in the development programmes in other districts while 40% is being used for the development of the city and towns areas”.
Frequent bandhs, blockades, and disturbances from unwanted elements have however delayed the completion of the development works, he lamented.
It may be mentioned that the flyover which was inaugurated today also faced the same fate as it suffered a delay of two years to complete. The ground work for the construction was started in March 2003 and the original date for completion of the project was fixed as March 2005, but later the target was re-fixed as June 2005. In the end the main part of the flyover was completed only in January this year.
The construction was undertaken by M/s Buildworth Private Ltd, Guwahati, under the National Buildings Construction Corporation, NBCC, within the sanctioned cost of Rs. 2492.95 lakhs.
The chief minister, in his address, also mentioned that it was decided to make the flyover a two-lane one rather than four-lane, and also not to include any footpath as it would have taken up too much space, and required more evictions.
The inauguration function which was begun at 9.45 am, continued after the brief break caused due to the chief minister’s sudden collapse, with state Assembly Speaker, S Budhachandra Singh taking Ibobi’s place as president of the function.
The Manipur Governor, Dr SS Sidhu, while addressing the public wished for quick improvement to the chief minister’s health. His health may have been deteriorated due to overwork, the Governor observed.
“He (chief minister) is very committed and hard working. I wish he will get relief soon. We need to have such a man to bring forward the state,” the Governor SS Sidhu said.
================================================================
Hill MLAs deny they are campaigning for Ibobi
By : A Staff Reporter 12/1/2007 1:33:21 AM
IMPHAL, Nov 30: The 10 independent MLAs from the hill constiuenies who were reported to have gone to New Delhi to counter-lobby for the continuance of chief minsiter Okram Ibobi as CLP leader, denied this was their agenda at all.
Two of the MLAs the IFP was able to speak to said they were there to campaign with Central leaders to use their influence to have the tribal area sub-plan cleared, have election to the district council and also to have the 6th Scheduled introduced in the hill districts.
The MLAs said they have sought appointment with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and All India Congress Committee, AICC, president Sonia Gandhi, but have not been intimated when they might be given audience.
Asked to comment on the news reports in local dailies today, they said it was unfounded speculation and absolutely baseless. “We have no business to join in the Congress family tussle”, Morung Mokunga, one of the independent MLAs now in New Delhi told IFP over the phone when contacted.
It may be recalled many local newspapers reported in today’s edition of their publications that 10 hill based MLAs, including the six sponsored by the United Naga Council, UNC, had flown in to New Delhi to campaign with the Central leaders to ensure that Ibobi remains chief minister no other chief ministers as had shown a keener interest in bringing about development in the hills than him.
The newspapers also speculated the MLAs’ aim was to counter, and undermine the campaign by Congress party dissidents who have been camping in New Delhi for Ibobi’s ouster.
=======================================================================
Area upto Tuitung cleared of militants: SF
By : A Staff Reporter 12/1/2007 1:32:28 AM
IMPHAL, Nov 30: In ongoing operations in the Samtal area of Chandel district, security forces have as of today cleared the area upto Tuitung village of underground presence, scalping a UG cadre in the process, according to a statement issued by the PRO, HQ, IGAR (South).
The unidentified UG cadre was killed in an encounter with the troops of the 10 JAKLI in the area of Tuitung village this morning at around 6:50 am, and an AK-47 rifle has been recovered, the statement said without giving further details of the incident.
The statement added that two UG hideouts have been busted during the operations today, but as the morale of UG cadres is in a bad state, they vacated and fled.
It said 13 more IEDs were recovered and destroyed in situ while securing the Tuitung area, bringing the total number of IEDs found since the operations began on November 18 to 79. The road has been opened using dozers till Phailen, it added.
In the ongoing operations, it further informed, till now seven villages have been cleared of the UG presence, giving a big relief to the civil population.
The IGAR (South), along with commander, 26 sector Assam Rifles visited Sehlon village, and personally directed the operation of the Assam Rifles troops, the statement added.
In other operations, troops of the 18 AR, manning a checkpoint at milestone 394 on NH-39 nabbed a UNLF activist from a Tata Sumo travelling from Moreh to Imphal, identified as Paramjit alias Thangal.
Another UNLF cadre was also nabbed yesterday by 21 AR personnel from Hiyanglam Mayai Leikai, identified as one Elangbam Pangthokpa, alias Sanayaima, 24. A PULF member, identified as Md Mojibur Rahman, 35, was also nabbed by the 32 AR from the Lilong Terenmakhong area.
==================================================================
Finally, BT Flyover inaugurated O Ibobi at his witty best before dramatic collapse, now stable
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 30 : The much dealyed Bir Tikendra-jit Flyover was formally dedicated to the public by the Governor, Dr SS Sidhu this morning, though the celebration was diluted by the sudden collapse of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi after delivering his address.
Before the deterioration to his health, which forced him to take a premature leave, the Chief Minister had promised that the flyover was the beginning in the transformation of Imphal into a modern and model city.
Work for the flyover, which was built by the National Buildings Construc- tion Cooperation, under funding from the Ministry of Urban development began as early as 2003. However, the bulk of the construction took place from end of 2005 to 2006 and was finally completed in January this year.
Despite the time extension, Zonal -in-charge NBCC, KP Ghosh expressed satisfaction that the construction was fulfilled within the earmarked construction cost of Rs 2492.95 lakhs. The construction agencies were M/s Buildworth Pvt. Ltd, Guwahati for the flyover and M/s H Mangilal Singh for R.C.C Pavement and Drain.
Ibobi described the public dedication as a proud moment for the State and expressed confidence that it will ease traffic in the congested commercial areas of Imphal. He lauded the NBCC for its commendable work despite the need for repeated mobilisaiton of its work force, disarrayed by long halts.
He ascribed the long delay in the construction to time loss from frequent bandhs and blockades and short working seasons due to long monsoon. In addition, the culture of inter- ference from unwanted elements was a big hurdle, he added.
Obstinate shopkeepers and women vendors, who harried the Government with litigation and other obstructing process halted the project for more than a year, he said. The market could be shifted to the present location, formerly belonging to the district hospital only after the Govt silenced their objection with force, he recounted.
Besides, the raw materials, chiefly sand which had to be procured from Dimapur and Assam, were brought from outside Mani-pur, Ibobi said implying the lengthy and time consuming procedure needed in acquiring them.
Outlining the need for complete makeover of the market, Ibobi appealed to the owners of buildings (Ngari shops ) on the west of Laxmi Bazar to comply with the Govt desire to occupy their land for the development of the market. He said, they will be adequately compensated and rightfully allocated plots in the new shopping centres.
On the other hand, he showed his intentions to inaugurate the market complexes of Nupi Keithel by March next year, install a garbage disposal unit and sparkle the dusty streets of Imphal with bituminous coatings very soon. Excavation works on the roads carried out by PHED, Power, BSNL among others are being jointly monitored on a weekly basis and the PWD will take up the repair works as soon as possible, for which money will be no constraint, he added.
Governor Dr Sidhu urged the Imphal Municipality to mop up its activities, to prevent the commercial hub from becoming a sore thumb. On the developmental works taken up the SPF Government, he stated that such projects provides employment opportunities and livelihood to the people of the State. Manipur is lagging other States in respect of overall development, and the efforts of the Government for enhancements of developmental progress has to be reinforced by the people, he said. Ghosh asserted that though two-lane flyovers are a rarity, the bridge is a fantastic piece of technical superiority and assured that all aspects of the flyover are in compliance with the guidelines of the Indian Road Congress.
Source: The Imphal Free Press & The Sangai Express
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