Cabinet subcommittee discusses Kangla vacation plan

IMPHAL, February 6: A Cabinet subcommittee meeting on shifting of 17th Assam Rifles from Kangla to its new location at Mahakoireng, was held today at the Old Secretariat with the deputy Chief Minister, L Chandramani in the chair, in preparation for and to ensure that the deadline set earlier for the shifting is met. The meting was attended, among others, by power minister Govindas Konthoujam, PHED minister Ksh Biren, chief secretary Rakesh, officials of the 25th BRTF, Assam Rifles and State police. According to earlier terms of condition, a company of the 17th Assam Rifles was to be shifted to the new location being set up at Mahakoireng, about 20 km from Imphal before January 26, as the first phase of the evacuation of the Kangla. The shifting was proposed to be done in three phases. The meeting also discussed about the installation of a power substation and a transformer at the proposed site, highly placed sources said. State Government representatives endorsed the government's commitment to complete construction of the proposed 17th Assam Rifles headquarters at Mahakoireng and complete the shifting of the unit within the stipulated time. The people of Manipur have been demanding shifting of the Assam Rifles from the historical Kangla fort which many holds as sacred. Some quarters have been demanding that the Kangla be preserved as historical site.