Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh announced that the Imphal Ring Road project is progressing as land acquisition is nearly finalised, except for a section in Imphal East District.
He made this statement during the morning session of the 8th session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on September 7.
In response to a calling attention motion by Opposition MLA K. Meghachandra Singh, the Chief Minister explained that delays in the Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded project were caused by law-and-order issues and difficulties in acquiring land. He reported that Rs. 105 crore has already been paid in land compensation, with an additional Rs. 60 crore due to be disbursed shortly. Land acquisition remains pending in the Khurai Ipum Pat area of Imphal East District. The Chief Minister expressed hope that the project would progress further once this acquisition is completed.
He added that the tendering process had been completed following ADB guidelines and approval. The state government has invested Rs. 189 crore in civil works for the project. Additionally, Public Works Department officials met with ADB representatives in August to finalise implementation details.
Addressing a separate calling attention motion raised by Opposition MLA Surjakumar Okram, the Chief Minister acknowledged that the Covid-19 lockdown and the May 3, 2023 conflict had severely disrupted the academic environment. Efforts are underway to compensate for lost academic time.
Regarding the University Grants Commission (UGC) 12(B) status, the Chief Minister stated that the government is prioritising the issue. He informed the assembly that the proposal for 12(B) recognition was submitted on May 13, 2026, and that necessary conditions, including recruitment requirements, are being addressed. He expressed optimism that the status would be granted soon.
On the topic of recruitment to the Manipur Education Services, he said that the service rules established in 2012 have been updated, notably streamlining promotion procedures. Amendments made during 2022-23 are under final review following inspections by the relevant Director and Commissioner.
Discussing recruitment of 1,100 primary teachers, the Chief Minister highlighted the limited availability of the Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed.) programme nationally. Consequently, the government's recruitment policy allows candidates up to five years to complete the required qualification.
He also noted that approximately 4,000 teachers are employed by the state government, but the B.Ed. training institute at DM College admits only 100 students annually. The government is therefore exploring collaboration with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to provide B.Ed. training for the remaining teachers.
Regarding scholarships and financial aid for students at Dhanamanjuri University (DMU), the Chief Minister stated that the funding required is substantial, approximately Rs. 14 crore. The government is currently seeking an appropriate financial mechanism to provide assistance promptly.