Panel report on liquor policy this month: CM
Civilians prohibited from buying liquor from security force canteeen
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 03 2023:
Stating that liquor being sold in the canteens of security forces is meant exclusively for the security personnel and buying from such outlets by public is strictly prohibited, CM N Biren informed the assembly that any individual apart from security personnel found purchasing liquor from canteens will be arrested.
Responding opposition MLA K Ranjit's query during the question hour session on the last day of the state assembly on Friday, the CM stated that all those found selling liquors until sale of liquor is formally regularised by the government will also be arrested.
N Biren said that an expert committee has been formed to bring out a white paper for legalising sale and consumption of liquor in the state following the decision by the government on September 20, 2022, for regulating liquor production in the state.
He also stated that the committee comprising doctors and university professors will submit their report by March 2023.To another poser raised by MLA K Ranjit regarding Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act 2014, CM Biren said that Manipur has a total agricultural land of 2,28,520 hectares with 1,07,630 hectares in the hills and 1,20,890 hectares in the plains.
From 2017 till January 2023, a total of 3017 cases have registered for violation of rules related to preservation of agricultural land in the state.
To a poser from Saikot MLA Paolienlal Haokip on delimitation process in disputed areas, Biren informed that a district boundary commission was formed on October 4, 2017 with retired judge Mutum Binoykumar as the chairman and administrative secretaries of home, revenue and tribal affairs and hills departments are members.
However, the committee is yet to be made functional due to pending processes for finalising the terms of reference (scope, structure and purpose) .
While clarifying that no elected representative from the district concerned is in the committee, the CM said the earlier revenue boundary is still in existence.
He also affirmed that overlapping of revenue boundaries will not be allowed.
Replying to a question asked by MLA Th Lokeshwar in connection with the senior scale of drivers, Biren, who also holds the portfolio of home, said that the senior scale of those drivers who have been in service on regular basis for the last 10 years have not been provided though process for the same is being initiated by the departmental screening committee.
Regarding Kshetrigao MLA Sheikh Noorul Hassan's poser related to PMJVK, CM Biren informed the house that a Rs 23.3619 project has been take up under the PMJVK scheme in Kshetrigao constituency where 4 projects have been completed and another 5 underway.
RD & PR minister Y Khemchand, while responding to a query raised by opposition MLA Surajkumar Okram in connection with the pending wages under MGNREGS, informed that as of February 26, 2023, a total of Rs 32,221.93 crore for the financial year 2021-22 and another sum of Rs 13,998.56 crore for the financial year 2022-23 are due to be paid off.
While answering to another question from the MLA regarding National Electronic Fund Management System (NeFMS), the minister said that a total amount of Rs 1301.86 crore (FY 2020-21), Rs 1398.07 crore (FY 2021-22) and Rs 1498.47 crore (FY 2022-23) can be received by the state irrespective of whether NeFMS is implemented in the state or not if 100 days of work is done under MGNREGS.
Fisheries minister Heikham Dingo, while responding to a query raised by MLA Th Lokeshwar regarding distribution of fish fingerlings to farmers, said that the department does not provide fingerlings to the farmers but there is scheme for constructing fish ponds.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Matysa Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) scheme, the beneficiary farmer should have his own land or a land taken under lease and the farmer should not be a government employee.
If the farmer is a progressive farmer, he/she can apply for loan/subsidy after 3 years while other fish farmers can avail loan after 5 years.