IMPHAL, March 17 - The issue of inner line permits (ILPs) to visitors will remain suspended in Manipur from March 18 till April 15, considering the prevailing situation arising out of coronavirus.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh informed this to reporters on the sidelines of a visit to the Old Airfield located at Koirengei in Imphal East district today.
The ILP system was introduced in the State from January 1 this year.
It may be mentioned here that the State Government had already taken up various forms of precautionary measures in view of the coronavirus threat by restricting movement across the international borders, besides screening suspected persons through the existing entry points of the State including the lone airport. But there is no positive case of COVID-19 in the State.
Meanwhile, Biren Singh said that the people have long been demanding shifting of military camps currently stationed in the Old Airfield as residential areas including Luwangshangbam, Khabam, Koirengei, Achanbigei, etc., are located in close proximity to these camps.
Following his appraisal to the Union Defence Minister, the Chief Minister said that the State Government officials had already held deliberations with the higher authorities of the military in this regard.
The discussions are still going on, and the State Government is ready to provide adequate and suitable land for early shifting of the military camps, the Chief Minister said. Biren Singh said that the purpose of his visit was to take stock of the current condition of the airfield and its adjoining areas. �I will again approach the Centre to shift the military camps,� he added.
MLAs L Sushindro, Dr S Ranjan and Th Satyabarta, and senior officials of the State Government also accompanied the Chief Minister during the day�s visit.
Itanagar Correspondent adds: In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Arunachal Pradesh Government on Tuesday temporarily suspended issue of provisional inner line permits (ILPs) and e-ILPs to non-local people.
�All the ILP issuing authorities are directed to temporarily suspend issuing of temporary ILP and e-ILP till further orders. No fresh/new ILP (temporary and regular) is to be issued. However, renewal of regular ILP will continue,� read the order issued by the Political Department of the Arunachal Pradesh Government.
This comes a day after the Arunachal Government closed its door to domestic tourists by temporarily suspending issue of ILPs to them to prevent the possibility of spread of COVID-19. Earlier, the Government had restricted the entry of foreigners into the State.
As a preventive measure, the Itanagar capital district administration has also prohibited entry of migrant workers from other States. The ILP issuing authorities, including the ADC, Itanagar, and the EACs of Itanagar, Naharlagun and Banderdewa, have been asked to temporarily suspend issue of ILPs to workers with immediate effect till further notice.
