Imphal: Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh today visited L. Champhai Village in Kangpokpi district for inspecting a water supply project in the area and also to repair a main water supply pipe which supplies drinking water to Thangmeiband locality in the heart of Imphal that was damaged during the unprecedented crisis in May 2023.
During the inspection, senior officials of Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) informed the Chief Minister that the work would be completed within a month, following which potable water supply would be restored to the villagers.
Khemchand Singh, along with MLAs Haokholet Kipgen, Saitu Assembly Constituency MLA, Heikham Dingo Singh, Sekmai AC MLA and Kh. Joykisan Singh, Thangmeiband AC MLA, assured necessary assistance for smooth execution of the work and stated that security forces would also be provided.
The Chief Minister urged the Chairman of L. Champhai Village to extend full cooperation to PHED officials to facilitate the smooth discharge of their duties.
Later, the Chief Minister attended a public interaction programme held at Christian Center Church Leimakhong at Kangpokpi district. During the interaction, he expressed his deep pain over the fact that people had to leave their homes and have been unable to return due to the crisis.
He recalled that during his interactions with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from both Meitei and Kuki communities, they expressed the same desire to return to their respective homes. He added that the crisis has caused the same pain and suffering to people from both communities.
He said that everyone should forgive and forget what has happened and work towards bridging the trust deficit that exists among the communities. Considering the future of the younger generation, he said that let us all collectively shun violence and work towards creating a peaceful environment for our youths. We are all under the guidance of God and must, therefore, strive to live in harmony and refrain from causing hardship and suffering to one another, he added.
Khemchand Singh stated that he would consider the upgradation of the existing Primary Health Centre at Leimakhong to a Community Health Centre. As the upgradation process may take time, he stated that in the interim, specialist and super-specialist doctors from the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) would be arranged to visit Leimakhong to provide treatment to the local people.
Haokholet Kipgen, MLA, described Leimakhong as a “Mini Manipur” and expressed hope that it would soon return to its pre-crisis state. He lauded the Chief Minister’s visit, and said that Leimakhong is inhabited by Meitei, Kuki, Naga, Nepali and Bihari.
Heikham Dingo Singh, MLA, credited the Chief Minister’s initiatives for bridging the gap and appealed for collective efforts towards peace and development in the State.
Kh. Joykisan Singh, MLA, said that we need to inculcate the sense of collective identity by identifying ourselves as Manipuris rather than emphasizing the communities to which we belong.
The Chief Minister upon returning from his visit to Leimakhong, visited Kanto Sabal village in Imphal West district, where he interacted with members of the Women Welfare Organisation (WWO) at the Village Development Committee Hall, Kanto Sabal.
During the interaction, the Chief Minister patiently heard the grievances and concerns raised by the members and assured them of all possible assistance and support for their welfare.
