State Cabinet gives nod to SoO extension for one year
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 03 2012: Even as the Centre has set a date on December 5 to meet with representatives of the Kuki National Organisation and the United People's Front, the signatories to the Suspension of Operation pact, the State Cabinet which met today has given the nod to the extension of the pact by another year.

Spokesman of the Congress Government and Education Minister M Okendra said that the Cabinet which met today from 3 pm, discussed in depth the SoO pact and decided to give the nod to the extension of the pact by another year.

Okendra however made it clear that under the SoO pact there is no question of tampering with the territorial boundary of Manipur.

Sovereignty is also not included on the agenda of the SoO pact.

As such the demand raised for the creation of a Kuki State recently is something outside the sphere of the SoO pact.

The term of the SoO had expired on November 22, but the spirit of the pact as well as the ground rules have been put in force till date.

Officials of the Union Home Ministry, representatives from the State Home Department as well as representatives of the two conglomerate bodies of KNO and UPF will participate in the December 5 meeting.

Apart from the SoO pact, the Cabinet also decided to extend the Disturbed Area Act, sans the seven Assembly segments of Imphal Municipal Council as well as to hold the third State Assembly session on December 19, 20 and 21 .

To give more teeth to collection of power tariff from the consumers, the Cabinet also decided to extend incentives to the tune of 75 pc.

The Cabinet also agreed to allow 10 of the 14 companies which have forwarded the Expression of Interest to the State Power Department in the bidding process for various power projects which are in the pipeline.

The projects include the 60 MW Irang Project, 51 MW Tuivai Project, 45 MW Maklang 2 Yungbi Project, 105 MW Nungleiband Project, 190 MW Pabram Project and 67 MW Khongnem Project.

It was also agreed to appoint SBI Caps as the consultant in preparing the necessary documents for privatising the Power Department.

Other decisions taken during the Cabinet meeting included revising the pay structure of the striking employees of IFCD and PWD.

It was also agreed to implement the schemes under the MSDC in Imphal East district as well as to devolve more power to the local bodies.

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