Ibobi proposes de-notification of dry State status
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 30 2015 : It's time for all the MLAs irrespective of whether they belong to the ruling party or Opposition parties as well as NGOs and civil society organisations to ponder on lifting the ban on sale of liquor (IMFL) in the State, Chief Minister O Ibobi stated in the State Assembly today.

Demands amounting to Rs 48,05,16000 for State Legislature, Rs 6,71,66,000 for Council of Ministers, Rs 75,62,99,000 for Secretariat, Rs 1016,23,65,000 for Finance, Rs 29,66,44,000 for Art and Culture and Rs 16,04,25,000 for Economics and Statistics were tabled in today's session for due consideration and approval by the House.

Taking part in discussing the demands, Ibobi stated that most of the Indian States with the exception of Nagaland and Manipur have lifted the ban on selling Indian Made Foreign Liquors in their respective States.

After the ban was lifted, revenue generation saw marked improvements in those States.

Sub-standard liquors brewed in Khatkhatti, Assam are being sold in the State in a clandestine manner thereby sapping a substantial amount of the State's revenue.

Indian Made Foreign Liquor put on sale

Tamil Nadu generates around Rs 25 crore annually from Excise duties alone and the State is able to provide rice free of cost to all BPL families while the same commodity is provided at Rs 1/2 per Kg to APL families.

But Manipur is still unable to implement the National Food Security Act.

Because of financial constraints, the State is unable to provide rice to BPL families at Rs 3 per Kg.

Country made liquor or white liquor brewed in Manipur is very popular in many Indian States and it has enough export potential.

Exporting the State's liquor can bring substantial amount of income.

In view of the State's limited resources, it's time for all the legislators, NGOs and civil society organisations to examine the proposal of lifting the ban on IMFLs so that the State can generate more revenue from Excise duties, Ibobi stated.

The State Government has been already considering about reducing expenditures incurred by Government officials while attending official meetings outside the State.

File processes handled at the level of section officers and dealing clerks take too much time but there is little delay when files reach Secretaries or Commissioners.

Taking due note of this inordinate delay, the Government has been working on a new mechanism so as to do away this habitual red-tapism and delays.

The State's institutional finance cell may seek loans from foreign funding agencies in order to take up several projects but there is a limit on the amount of loan and this is fixed by the Government of India.

That is why, the State has limitations in seeking loans from foreign funding agencies.

In case, the State is compelled to seek loans from foreign funding agencies, the State Government obtain consent of the Ministry of External Affairs.

All Government departments have been complying with the general financial discipline but the Library Act could not be implemented fully due to financial difficulties.

Both Maphou Dam Multipurpose Project and Dolaithabi Project are being reviewed periodically and maximum efforts are being invested to complete the two projects so that people can reap the expected benefits as early as possible.

As for the villagers of Chadong which has now started submerging, 95 per cent of them have collected their compensation amounts and they have shifted to other places.

Apart from providing alternative plots, each of the affected family was given Rs 15 lakh.

But five families have still been contending that they should be given Rs five lakh each more.

As payment of extra money would not be allowed by the Government of India, the Government has been negotiating with the particular families.

The Bill passed by the State Assembly for establishment of cultural university has been approved by the Governor.

Efforts are on to commence the university's maiden session from the current year.

The Government has also been working to table a draft cultural policy before the State Cabinet, Ibobi informed the House.

Raising a policy cut, L Ibomcha said that files are being held back by section officials of the Secretariat.

He urged the Government to devise a mechanism under which all files can be disposed within a week or a specific period.

He further appealed to ensure availability of Manipuri food items in all Manipur Bhavans and sell liquors seized by Excise personnel to security forces at reduced prices.

Ibomcha then demanded amendment of the Library Act so that each district has their own libraries.

Karam Shyam remarked that the amount earmarked for library in the State budget was disappointing.

After the policy cuts raised by the Opposition Members were withdrawn, all the demands tabled today were passed by the House unanimously.