Centre releases Rs. 32 crores to restore flood damaged highways

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 11

Chief minister, N. Biren Singh today announced that Rs.32 crores have been released by the Union minister for road transport & highways Nitin Gadkari for restoring flood damaged national highways in the state.

He also said that a proposal was submitted to the ministry for construction of 12 new roads connecting the state with other states.

He made this announcement while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural function of police and press workshop at 1st MR Banquet hall. The function was organised by Manipur Police department in connection with its 125th anniversary celebration.

Biren said that the government is on a mission to bring better relations between the public, police and the press of the state.

He appreciated the efforts of the police and said that people have started trusting the police for their trustworthy activities done recently, which is a good sign of governance.

Stating that media is the fourth pillar in a democratic state, Biren said that media invariably plays an important role to uphold the rule of law in the region. Professional ethics should be maintained by the journalists while reporting sensitive news so that police could control the crimes happening in the State, he continued.

Further he continued the sole responsibility of the police is to maintain and control the law and order situation of the State. If police do not know the ground realities such as complexities of social and political nature at grassroots level, then police cannot prevent from deteriorating law and order situation, he added.

He stated that the cybercrime unit of the police department has solved many cases and thus preventing various crimes and mob justice in the State.

Topics like redressal of grievances, media management, safety of journalists, mob justice and ethical reporting were lectured by eminent personalities during the workshop.

Inspector general of police (Zone-I), Clay Khongsai lectured on “media management” and said that media should work with professional working integrity. He said that public relation officer (PRO) has an important role in media management and that the information he gives out should be correct, factual and fair.

Associate professor of LMS Law College, N. Pramod Singh talked on “mob justice”. He said that mob justice are crime and offences of state and is directly related to police.

CrPc 44 of IPC is applicable in a state if the mob gathered turns violent and does not abide by the law, he added.

IGP (administration) Manipur, S. Ibocha Singh, SP of Tengnoupal, S. Ibomcha Singh and Times of India correspondent, K. Sarojkumar Sharma also gave lectures on redressal of grievances, safety of journalists and ethical reporting respectively.

Around 100 police and media fraternity attended the workshop.

Meanwhile, Biren Singh along with commissioner YAS H. Deelep, director of YAS N. Praveen Singh and other officials of the department today inspected the ongoing repairing work being taken up at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, Imphal.

During the inspection, chief minister visited the temporary office of Sports University situated at the office building of Manipur Olympic Association, Khuman Lampak. Stating that he is satisfied with the ongoing work for the Sports University, he said that everything is almost ready for the inauguration of the first Sports University of the country.

The State government is waiting for the confirmation of Prime Minister’s schedule for the inauguration, he added.

Chief minister said that the Main Stadium Ground is being developed into the football field of International Standard with natural grass turf fields and would be completed before the commencement of I-League tournament next month.