On Hill Leaders' Day, Meeyamgi Numit, CM says RBI ban likely to be lifted soon
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, June 20 2019: Chief Minister N Biren Singh has stated that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to lift the ban imposed on financial transactions of the State Government due to overdraft within a few days.

He was speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the joint Meeyamgi Numit and Hill Leaders' Day held at the Durbar Hall of the Chief Minister's Secretariat today.

To a query, Biren maintained there is no power tussle within the Government.

"As the leader of the Government, I instituted an enquiry to find out if there was any lapse in financial management, why the matter was not addressed in time and why RBI was allowed to ban the State Government's financial transactions.

These are all internal matters", Biren said.

To another query if the relieving of two Cabinet Ministers of the charges of Finance, Power and Works was related to the enquiry, he said, "RBI banned the State Government's transactions on account of lapses on our part including myself" .

The enquiry is aimed at averting such unwanted situation in future.

As for removal or reversion of portfolios or reshuffling of the Council of Ministers, BJP Central leaders would decide, asserted the Chief Minister adding that one must wait for the enquiry report.

On Hill Leaders' Day, Meeyamgi Numit, CM says RBI ban likely to be lifted soon

The Chief Minister said that during his recent visit to New Delhi, he had apprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of the current financial position of the State.

N Biren further informed that he requested the Finance Minister to release open market borrowings to overcome the current situation.

Subsequently, the Union Ministry of Finance issued permission directing the RBI to raise open market borrowings of the State up to Rs 795 crore.

For the time being, the State Government is borrowing Rs 400 crore from the open market through RBI to neutralise the current overdraft, he said while adding that the State Government is also expecting to receive Rs 305 crore as State share of Central Taxes in a day or so.

In another positive development, the Chief Minister said, he could secure approval of different projects worth Rs 176.43 crore from the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) during the visit.

Out of the total Rs 176.43 crore, Rs 59.06 crore is for three projects to be taken up under North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS), the Chief Minister said and added that Rs 90 crore for 38 projects under Hill Area Development Programme (HADP) particularly for Tamenglong district has also been approved.

Rs 27.37 crore for 16 projects under Flood Relief Works has also been approved, he added.

The three projects under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) are upgradation of Moirang-Sendra Road upto Sendra Hillock, Moirang-Sendra Road to Omba Hillock and Keina Bazar to Thanga Keibul Road for promoting tourism amounting to Rs 21.65 crore, augmentation of Moreh Water Supply Scheme amounting to Rs 22.84 crore and opening of special ward in JNIMS amounting to Rs 14.57 crore.

The projects under Hill Area Development Programme (HADP) include construction of water supply schemes at Tamei, Nungba, Haochong etc., transit quarters/hostels for doctors, teachers and Government employees at Nungba, Noney, Haochong and sub-divisional headquarters in Noney and Tamenglong districts, development and promotion of eco-tourism centre at Zeliad lake and Tharon cave etc.

The scheme also covers projects related to employment generation for the local public by taking up various food processing units for fruits, vegetables, tea, bamboo, spices etc.

with forward and backward linkages leading to overall increase in income.

Out of the total Rs 90 crore approved under HADP, Rs 24.22 crore, which is 26.91%, has been earmarked for projects related to welfare of women and children.

Flood relief works approved by DoNER included construction of irrigation canal and intake stair for RLI scheme at Chingarel and Keibi Awang Leikai, Imphal East and construction of pick-up weir across different rivers in Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur and Kangpokpi districts.

The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 5th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog mooted the need for rain water harvesting to curb water scarcity.

The Prime Minister directed the States to impart awareness regarding rain water harvesting projects at district and village levels.

As such, he would convene a joint meeting of Zilla Parishad Members, Pradhans and ADC Members soon, the Chief Minister added.

Meeyamgi Numit and Hill Leaders' Day could not be held for the months of March, April and May due to election model code of conduct for Lok Sabha elections.

In today's joint Meeyamgi Numit and Hill Leaders' Day, the Chief Minister attended to around 510 complaints and personally met around 1500 people from 9 am to 2 pm.

Chief Secretary Dr J Suresh Babu, Principal Secretary (Health) and Nodal Officer of Meeyamgi Numit Vumlunmang Vualnam, Secretary to CM N Geoffrey, IGP (Adm) IK Muivah and other senior Government officials assisted the Chief Minister in assessing people's complaints.

HoDs and officials of different Government Departments were also present at the CM's Secretariat complex to assist the Chief Minister in resolving people's grievances.