Imphal, March 17 2009: Manipur Governor, Gurbachan Jagat has expressed concern over the continuing challenges posed by insurgency and law and order problems. Addressing the three day session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly this morning, Governor, Gurbachan Jagat said that his government is fully committed to improving the law and order situation.

Through the efforts of the Manipur Police, commendable results have been achieved in the counter insurgency efforts, he said.

The Governor further said, the state police with the help of Central Para Military Forces, Army and Assam Rifles have been able to check significantly the activities of the UGs in the valley area.

With the signing of Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with UPF and KNO groups, it is expected that the law and order situation in the hill areas would improve.

To effectively patrol the Loktak lake area, the government has set up a dedicated Loktak Protection Force, and the Ministry of Home Affairs had been requested to provide Hovercraft for the Loktak Protection Force.

He informed the House that during the period from January 1 to December 31 last year, a total of 1,703 insurgents belonging to different underground groups were arrested and 297 insurgents were killed.

Totally 340 assorted weapons along with 5,707 different ammunition, 161 hand grenades, 97 lethod bombs and 600 grams of RDX were recovered from the UGs.

In all 189 persons were detained under the NSA and 31 UGs belonging to various outfits surrendered to the government authorities, the Governor informed.

Touching upon the state's revenue account, Governor Gurbachan Jagat said that there has been surplus since 2004 and added that the state government was successful in wiping out fiscal deficit in 2007-08. He said the government had an annual plan 2008-09 amounting to Rs 1660 crore.

This was enhanced to Rs 1713.95 crore, including Rs 550 crore under Special Plan Assistance (SPA).

His government had made efforts to maximise assistance received under the Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) and so far the Ministry of DoNER had sanctioned 92 projects amounting to Rs 891.14 crore for projects in the power, water supply, roads and bridges, health, sports, education and minor irrigation sectors.

Out of Rs 545.92 crore released so far by the Government of India, an amount of Rs 424.78 crore had been utilised.

In addition, the North Easter Council had released Rs 131.63 crore for various ongoing and new schemes.

Regarding road transport, the governor said, the government was proposing to improve 158 numbers of roads under SPA.

Steps had been taken for widening of Imphal-Mayang Imphal road to four lane standard.

The total length of Nationa Highways in Manipur is 959 kms, out of which the length of NH under PWD, Manipur is 274 kms only.

The remaining 685 kms is under the BRO.

Improvement of the NH-150 from Airport to Raj Bhavan of 8 km was completed by the PWD 10 months ahead of schedule, the Governor informed the House.