Seven new districts “purely for administrative convenience”: Ibobi

Imphal, Jan 24: Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today reiterated that creation of seven new districts is “purely for administrative convenience.”
Clarifying over the allegation by BJP leaders that creation of seven new districts in the state has worsened the blockade in the state, Ibobi while addressing a press conference at his official secretariat this evening said that creation of new districts is not to give land to any community or a party but is purely for administrative convenience.
On Monday, General Secretary Th Biswajit of BJP Manipur Pradesh alleged that the situation over the blockade worsened after the inauguration of the new districts.Manipur with 16 districts is reeling under indefinite economic blockade on National Highways 2 and 37 since November 1 last year.
United Naga Council called the blockade in protest against the government’s move to elevate Sadar Hills and Jiribam into full fledged districts. The UNC and its associated bodies are of the view that the move has been done to bifurcate the ancestral land of the Nagas in Manipur.
To bring an amicable solution to the ongoing blockade which entered 85th day today, the state government is ready to hold talks, he added while responding to a query. The meeting venue should be in the state capital or in the national capital, he said the government has also written to Ministry of Home Affairs in this regard. “We believe the talk may take place after the Republic Day (function),” he added.
On being asked about the raising of National Highway Protection force, Ibobi accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, congress MLAs Y Surchandra, Dr I Ibohalbi and RK Anand, informed that the proposal was a long pending demand of the state government for free flow of supplies permanently on its highways.
Replying to another query on intensifying the vehicular movement in 220 km Imphal-Jiribam sector of the National Highway, he said, the state government is planning to increase the movement goods trucks along the route at least twice in a week.