Concise record of important decisions of MIC released
CM strikes tough pose against encroachment in forest
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 12 2023: Chief Minister N Biren Singh released a book christened 'A Compendium of Important Decision of Manipur Information Commission' at the Chief Minister's Secretariat, today.

The book is a compilation of all the landmark decisions taken by Manipur Information Commission (MIC) since its inception in 2006 .

At the function, the Chief Minister said that the initiative taken up by MIC to keep a record of all the important decisions as a book is indeed laudable and historic as it can help bring transparency in the State's affairs and benefit the future generations.

Saying that the practice of record keeping is quite weak in Manipur, Biren continued that there is a need to maintain the decisions taken by the Durbar, State Assembly and the Cabinet for future reference.

Concise record of important decisions of MIC released

He went on to state that the Government, at times, faces difficulties in tracing certain records.

The Government has come across some individuals who keep important records pertaining to the State affairs and it was helpful, he added.

Further stating that the Government has also learnt about the changes in the forest of the hill districts with the help of satellite mapping and the same will be documented, the Chief Minister maintained that the Government takes encroachment on forest areas very seriously and the same will be dealt with accordingly.

The Chief Minister also said that a process is underway to digitalize the land and revenue records.

Continuing that the boundary and district boundary of Manipur remains the same as it was found in the Land Revenue Survey of 1960, N Biren maintained that the Government had already issued a notification to not accept the claim of district or villages by installing a signboard.

He further said that there is no question of the Government altering the district boundary of Manipur.

The schedule of the ADC elections, on the other hand, will be announced once the report of the minor delimitation is submitted by the Hill Area Committee, N Biren said.

The Lokayukta was set up to control corruption and bring transparency in the administration, he said and added that the Anti-Corruption Cell was also established for the same purpose.

To a query, he responded that the Government will do whatever it can to make sure there are not many pending cases at Lokayukta.

Saying that many Government employees have already been penalised for manipulating land records, the Chief Minister said that to be envious of others' properties is a trait of immoral, greedy and crooked persons.

He further stated that there is also a section of people who love to create issues out of simple things.

The Chief Minister conveyed that one drug smuggler who evaded arrest by giving Rs 1 lakh to VDF personnel at Henbung, Kangpokpi was arrested from Maram recently and a large amount of drugs were seized.

He went on to state that two VDF personnel have also been arrested for giving free passage to the drug smuggler.

Saying that the police managed to arrest the drug smuggler as he received information about the matter on time, the Chief Minister appealed to all stakeholders and the people to support the War on Drugs campaign.

There are 1.30 lakh active drug users in Manipur as per the record available at the Social Welfare Department, the Chief Minister continued, urging the people to understand the seriousness of drug abuse.

Expressing concern over some individuals running rehabilitation centres for personal gain, the Chief Minister said that the State Government is holding a discussion to open de-addiction centres in another four-five locations.

On the detection of photo similar entries in the electoral roll of the 60 Constituencies, N Biren maintained that the names of about 36,000 bogus voters have been deleted and the same will be done for the remaining entries too.

Law & Legislative Affairs Minister Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh, State Chief Information Commissioner Oinam Sunil Singh, Additional Chief Secretary MH Khan, Editors of print and electronic media, RTI activists also attended the programme among others.