Silchar home for Manipuris

Imphal, Oct 11 : The Okram Ibobi Singh government has decided to construct a Manipur Bhawan at Silchar in Assam, near Jiribam, with an aim to develop the Imphal-Jiribam highway as an alternative route for supply of essential commodities to Manipur.

An official source said the state government is negotiating a deal to acquire a 24-bigha plot of land, owned by three individuals, at a proposed cost of Rs 1.2 crore. The plot is situated along the NH53 at Rongpur, Silchar.

“The government is seriously working on this, and as soon as everything is finalised, the state cabinet will take a decision and buy the land for construction of a Manipur Bhawan,” an official source said, adding a Manipur Bhawan at Silchar would help travellers along this route. Manipur has similar bhawans in Guwahati, Calcutta and Delhi.

After the Imphal-Dimapur highway, the Imphal-Jiribam highway is the only remaining supply line for Manipur. With trains coming through Jiribam upto Tupul in Tamenglong district in the first phase of extension of the Silchar railway line, the government sees heavy traffic along this route.

In addition to this, the government wants to develop this highway in view of the frequent disturbances along the Imphal-Dimapur highway, caused by bandhs and blockades by public organisations.

The recent economic blockade imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC) triggered a food crisis in Manipur. After the UNC-sponsored blockade, the chief minister began paying serious attention to the Imphal-Jiribam highway, the source said.

The construction of a Manipur Bhawan is also a long-standing demand of Manipuris residing in Assam’s Barak Valley. A large number of Manipuris are settled in Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj.

Civil society bodies in Manipur have also been demanding development of the Imphal-Jiribam highway as the state’s main supply line.

Official sources said maintaining law and order along this route would also be easier.

After the UNC blockade, the state government is also trying to take over charge of maintenance of the Imphal-Jiribam highway from the Border Roads Organisations, as it feels that maintenance by the BRO is not up to the mark.