Manipur CM suggests need based development for each region

Manipur Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh today said the process of planning should be aimed at providing need-based development for each region in a manner that would strengthen national objectives. Meghachandra Kongbam, Jt Director of Manipur Information Centre said the CM attended the 56th National Development Council in New Delhi. During the meeting, Singh said Manipur had benefited substantially during the 11th Five Year Plan period , in terms of providing better infrastructure and health care, better education facilities, rural roads, rural housing and creation of employment generation through many national flagship programmes. He emphasised on the need for strengthening human resource and physical infrastructure during the 12th Plan period to enable the North Eastern States to respond effectively and catch up with the rest of the country. He further stated that the large agricultural potential especially that of horticulture in the North Eastern Region had remained unexploited and suggested that with proper planning and efficient delivery system, the hill areas of the North Eastern Region could flourish with orchard and plantation crops. The Chief Minister said in the context of the North Eastern Region, the Approach Paper needed to take into account conservation of the eco-systems and effective management of large water bodies like Loktak Lake and 19 identified water bodies of Manipur, which sustained not only the Loktak Hydro Electric Project and a large population of fishermen, but also provided sanctuary to rare species of wildlife.