Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh on May 24 inspected the MTU extension campus in Heirok, visited an IDP relief camp in Mayang-Imphal, and inaugurated a Khelo India indoor sports hall.
Imphal, May 24: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Saturday covered ground across two districts, inspecting a university extension campus, a community health centre, a displaced persons relief camp, and newly inaugurated sports and educational infrastructure — part of what his office described as a review of ongoing development projects and service delivery.
In Thoubal district, Khemchand visited the proposed extension campus of Manipur Technical University (MTU) at Heirok, accompanied by Heirok MLA Thokchom Radhesyham Singh, MTU Vice Chancellor Prof. W. Chandbabu Singh, and Education Commissioner Ningthoujam Geoffrey. The site was originally constructed for Heirok Engineering College under MTU before the government decided to repurpose it as an MTU extension campus.
During the inspection, Khemchand directed the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department to blacktop a six-kilometre road connecting the campus to National Highway 102, the Imphal-Moreh road. He also assured officials that boundary walls, drains, and footpaths inside the campus would be constructed. The MTU Vice Chancellor told the Chief Minister that the university intends to begin classes at the extension campus from the academic session starting in July-August.
The Chief Minister also took note of drinking water and power supply issues in the area, assuring the local MLA that both would be addressed shortly.
Khemchand then visited the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Thoubal district, which is currently functioning out of a state government building. He interacted with teachers and students and planted trees on the school campus. At the Community Health Centre in Heirok, he reviewed available facilities and spoke with doctors, promising improvements to existing infrastructure. He also inspected market sheds at the Heirok Women's Market. Residents lined both sides of the road and waved as his motorcade passed through local areas.
Earlier in the day, Khemchand visited an IDP relief camp at Pravabati College in Mayang-Imphal, around 26 kilometres from Imphal city, where he provided Rs 1 lakh in financial assistance to a displaced family facing a serious health condition. He interacted with IDP representatives and the college students' union during the visit.
The Chief Minister then inaugurated a Multipurpose Indoor Hall at Charoipung Playground, Mayang-Imphal, built under the central government's Khelo India scheme. At the event, he said the sports landscape of Manipur could not be complete without players from the constituency, and announced that the hall would be open to the public. He also distributed commendation certificates and plaques to local athletes and coaches.
On infrastructure requests from Mayang-Imphal MLA Kongkham Robindro Singh, the Chief Minister said a football turf would be constructed nearby, funds for players' hostels would be earmarked from the state budget, and work on an approach road would begin. He also said a proposal for a volleyball court raised by the All Mayang-Imphal Muslim Youth Development Organisation would be looked into.
Khemchand separately inaugurated a 100-bed girls' hostel, eight classrooms, a library, and a science and craft block at Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya in Heigum Yangbi. He also visited a 100-bed hospital under the Wangoi Sub-Division to check on construction progress, assuring local women that it would be made functional soon.
Addressing the gathering at the indoor hall inauguration, the Chief Minister urged residents to form Self Help Groups, noting that the state government had sanctioned around Rs 350 crore in related funds, which he said could benefit communities around the time of the Ningol Chakouba festival. "We must forget the past and move forward towards development in the state," he said, in reference to the prolonged crisis.
Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam, who delivered the presidential address at the sports hall event, said Mayang-Imphal had seen visible changes in education, sports, and connectivity in recent years. He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for establishing the National Sports University in Manipur.
