The northeast would become the driver of the country’s growth story, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Manipur on Tuesday, kicking off the BJP’s campaign for coming Assembly elections in the State.
Also read: News Analysis | Manipur Assembly election: an opportunity for a limping Congress
Mr. Modi inaugurated 13 projects and laid the foundation stones for nine others. The inaugurated projects cost ₹1,850 crore and those for which foundation stones were laid will cost over ₹2,950 crore. These projects would make lives of people easier, he stated.
On arrival in Imphal in a special flight, he went to the renovated Govindajee temple and offered his prayers.
The Prime Minister inaugurated an Integrated Command and Control Centre for the Imphal Smart City Mission, development of the western front of the Imphal river, an industrial training institute and a 200-bed semi-permanent COVID-19 hospital, among others. He laid the foundation stones for five national highway projects, government residential quarters, Manipur Institute of Performing Arts, Centre for Invention, Innovation, Incubation and Training, the biggest PPP initiative in the State, a state of the art cancer hospital, besides several other projects.
Also read: In Manipur, campaign for Assembly polls gains momentum
Mr. Modi said that earlier Chief Ministers, Ministers and high officials had to rush to Delhi for getting things done. However, it was a thing of the past. Now, Central leaders were coming to Manipur frequently because the Centre felt that there could not be proper development in the country without a balanced development of the northeast.
Provision of drinking water
“Those who ran previous governments in Delhi neglected Manipur, resulting in alienation of people. After becoming the Prime Minister, I brought New Delhi to the doorsteps of Manipur and the northeast. The entire region will become major drivers of India’s growth,” he asserted.
In the recent past, the government could provide drinking water to 5.7% of the total population of the State. Now, over 50% of the people had been covered. Once the Thoubal multi-purpose dam is commissioned, another project in Tamenglong district would come up. Since there was a “double engine” government in the State, 100% of the people would soon be provided potable water. He also spoke of the benefits provided to farmers and free medical treatment and medicines offered to the poor sections of people. Over 1.30 crore families had been given free gas connections, he noted.
Also read: Manipur police officer to contest Assembly election
The country honoured the freedom fighters of Manipur. The name of a peak in Andaman and Nicobar islands, Mount Harriet, had been recently changed to Mount Manipur. The Act East policy would help develop tourism and export business. The national highways connecting Imphal with other places were being developed, he said.
Mr. Modi recalled the spectacular performances of the world class sportspersons of Manipur. With the help and cooperation of the people there was now peace and development in the State.
The ‘Go to Village’ and ‘Go to Hills’ developmental projects undertaken by the Biren government received a pat from the Prime Minister.
Mr. Modi and his entourage drove from the airport to Hafta Kangjeibung, the meeting venue, in an almost empty Tiddim road as the CorCom, a conglomeration of six proscribed underground organisations, had called for a boycott of the Prime Minister’s visit.
(With inputs from PTI)
