Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh along with Urban Development Minister Th Shyamkumar and other officials visited iconic Ima Keithel and interacted with the women vendors there on Sunday.
Three markets buildings of Ima Keithel, which is Asia’s largest women-run market, was recently selected for development under the third phase of the Central Government’s Swachh Iconic Places (SIP) project, a brainchild of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Informing this, Chief Minister N Biren told reporters that beautification and cleanliness activities would be the main components of the programme. So, he visited the market to interact with the women vendors apart from inspecting the condition of the world-famous market.
He said that a committee comprising representatives of all the three Ima markets, Imphal Municipal Corporation and MAHUD would be formed to chalk out details of refurbishing plans.
N Biren Singh further said that allocation of vendor space on the first floor and opening of basement of the market as parking lot would be considered while executing the SIP project.
The SIP project envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being coordinated by the Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation with the support of the State Government and local administration under the Central Government’s flagship programme, Swachh Bharat Mission.
Regarding construction of market shed at the erstwhile complex of Tombisana High School, Chief Minister Biren said that the project halted midway after human skulls and skeletal remains were unearthed during ground levelling works.
Stating that required funds for the project are already there, the Chief Minister said that the Government would do the needful for early resumption of construction works.
On the border issue with Myanmar, the Manipur CM said that boundaries of the two countries are clearly demarcated in the old maps. As such, the State and the Central Governments would never remain silent if Manipur loses part of its territory while erecting border pillars, he added.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju also stated that no piece of land would be compromised, the Chief Minister said.
State Government representatives were also part of the joint survey team of border demarcation and there was no dispute earlier. However, some issues had cropped up on the location of a border pillar recently, he added.
Responding to a query on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016, the Manipur CM said that there is nothing to worry about because all the relevant matters regarding protection of indigenous people of the State would be incorporated in the Manipur People’s Protection Bill, which is to be tabled in the State Assembly this month.
