Chief Minister Okram Ibobi yesterday met Union Minister of Forest and Environment in New Delhi and urged him to issue the necessary orders on the clearance of its Ministry as soon as possible in connection with the construction of Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal BG railway project. Forest Advisory Committee recommended diversion of 1,005 hectares of forest land for construction of 111 km long Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal railway line in Manipur. Completion of the project means Imphal being connected to India’s railway network. Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal BG railway line project was sanctioned way back in 2003-04. However, the project could not make progress due to lack of environmental clearances. Work on the Rs.60 billion project is being taken up in two phases. Under Phase -I, 84 km Jiribam-Tupul section will be completed by March 2016. Remaining 27 km stretch between Tupul and Imphal will be taken under Phase -II and will be commissioned by March 2018. The project will also feature tallest girder rail bridge in the world. Bridge no 164 will have a pier height of 141 metre. At present, Mala-Rijeka viaduct on Belgrade-Bar railway line in Europe has the tallest pillar of height 139 metre. 

India celebrates National Education Day today to commemorate the birth anniversary of the first education minister of independent India, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. The day is being celebrated in Manipur too. People paid floral tributes to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad as part of the celebration by Indira Gandhi National Open University, Regional Centre Imphal. Later, a peace rally was taken out from DIET Imphal centre in DM College Campus to IGNOU Regional centre in North AOC. Dr S Dilan Singh, Regional Director of IGNOU Regional Centre Imphal said the National Education Day is observed across the nation in remembrance of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who played a major role in developing the education system in the country. 

Youth Development Organisation, Pallel Thong Wangma condemned the release of a drug peddler from Pallel by Kakching Police Station. In a press meet at Manipur Press Club, Secretary Youth Development Organisation, Pallel Thong Wangma, Sapam Bikram said a drug user was found under the Pallel Bridge in unconscious state. Pallel police picked up the man and was interrogated. The man revealed that he got the drugs from one Moirangthem Open of Pallel Thong Wangma Maning Leikai. When police conducted search in Open’s residence police recovered SP and N 10 tablet from Open’s mother. After about an hour Open was handed over to Kakching P/S. But the IO released Open on under the pretext that drug abusers cannot be kept in Police station. 

Rural Development Minister Francis Ngajokpa yesterday dismissed charges levelled by Andro MLA, Th Shyamkumar accusing him of mis-appropriation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana scheme funds. Terming the charges as baseless, Francis Ngajokpa said the PMGSY e-procurement and e-tender process is handled by the nodal agency of National Rural Road Development Agency. He said the State and concern minister cannot use their influence and power to manipulate the funds. On Saturday, MLA Th Shyamkumar had accused Francis Ngajokpa of swindling funds and demanded his resignation. Rural Development Minister Francis Ngajokpa said the bidding rate was less than pervious schedule rate as contractors under PMGSY are mostly sub-contactors. He said this time sanctioned funds were also less compared to previous years.  Minister Ngajokpa said he is unable to act on the matter as the guidelines allows bidding rate to be lower than the schedule rate.

Prime Minister Office is yet to confirm whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be attaining the Sangai Festival as invited by the Manipur Government. Regarding the matter, BJP Manipur Pradesh President Thounaojam Chaoba said the Prime Minister Office may inform in a day or two. 

A day after a Mass Membership Campaign was organised by BJP members including BJP National Secretary Shyam Jaju at the party office at Nityaipat, five people today joined the Bhartiya Janata Party. 

The new faces which joined BJP are Phijam Pakchao former CPI candidate of Wabagaidagi under Lamshang Assembly Constituency, Meisnam Mangi Pradhan of Potshangbam Gram Panchyat, North Wabagai Ward Member Okram Ibungobi, Potshangbam Gram Panchayat ward member Khundongbam Dhiren and Myengbam Purnima. 

Welcoming the new members, Thounaojam Chaoba said in view of the upcoming District Council election the party will begin working at the grass-root level.