IMPHAL, June 12: Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh on Friday said development is the most effective way to end insurgency and unrest in the state, while seeking greater support from NITI Aayog for economic recovery and infrastructure development.
Speaking during an interaction between NITI Aayog officials and chief ministers of northeastern states in New Delhi, Singh said Manipur had suffered significantly in recent years in economic, social and development spheres.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s description of the Northeast as the “Growth engine of India” and “Ashtalakshmi”, the chief minister said development remains the most effective tool to address insurgency and unrest in the state.
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Stating that NITI Aayog has a key role to play in the development of the Northeast and Manipur, Singh sought its assistance in planning economic recovery, coordinating with various ministries and engaging international partners.
He highlighted connectivity as one of the sectors requiring sustained investment in the state and called for the early completion of major projects, including the railway line to Imphal, national highway projects linking the state capital with the rest of the country and the expansion of the airport terminal.
These projects have the potential to transform Manipur’s development landscape, he said.
Singh also sought NITI Aayog’s support for projects such as the Imphal Ring Road, an elevated highway in Imphal and the Imphal-Moreh railway project.
The chief minister said that although the Act East Policy envisions Manipur as India’s land gateway to Southeast Asia, implementation of key projects often faces delays due to cross-border political instability and related challenges.
Noting a persistent implementation gap, he proposed the setting up of a high-level ‘Act Fast Implementation Unit’ to protect critical cross-border logistics infrastructure from localised disruptions.
Singh pointed out that internal security challenges and civil friction create a risk which heavily discourages private investment and inflates the construction and maintenance costs of projects in the state.
Singh also stated that Manipur relies heavily on central grants, with its own tax revenue making up only about 10 per cent of revenue receipts, thereby severely constraining its independent development funding. (PTI)
