Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 06:
After keeping the District Councils in 'animated suspension' for several years, the State Government has finally to hold elections to the six District Councils in two phases in April this year.
The decision to hold the election was taken during a Cabinet meeting held today with the Chief Minister in the chair.
Other than this the Cabinet also decided to approach the Union Home Ministry to allot rice to the people of Churachandpur who have been gravely affected by Bamboo flowering under the National Calamity Contingency Fund.
As per the decision of the Cabinet the election to the six District Councils including Sadar Hills will be held in two phases in April this year.
Apart from Sadar Hills, the election will be held for Churachandpur, Chandel, Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul districts.
The Cabinet decided that the first phase of the election will be held on April 18 while the second phase will be held on April 25.Counting of the votes will be held on April 30 at the district headquarters.
The election process will start from March 1 and it was decided that all election related process would be finalised by May 3 .
Significantly election to the District Councils have been stalled since
1989 .
The Hill Areas Committee Chairman, MLA Thangminlien Kipgen on assuming charge this term, has been holding a series of meeting and piling the pressure on the State Government to hold the election to the District Councils.
Each District Council will have 20 members each.
Out of this, 18 will be elected in each Council while the remaining two will be nominated by the Government.
The total number of members to be elected from the six Councils will thus stand at 108 .
The Cabinet also took a serious view of the devastation caused by the large bamboo flowering at Churachandpur district last year in which standing crops as well the granaries were devoured and destroyed by rodents.
After deliberating on the matter, the Cabinet decided to approach the Union Home Ministry to allot rice to the affected people under the National Calamity Contingency Fund.
The bamboo flowering phenomena hit the interiors of Churachandpur particularly, Tipaimukh, Thanlon and Vangai Range.
According to the report submitted by the DC of the district, the rice needed for the whole district in a month is 5 thousand quintals.
After deliberating on the report submitted by the DC, the Cabinet decided that the State Relief and Rehabilitation Committee should be handed the responsibility of pursuing the rice procurement from the Centre.