Transport Dept collects Rs 4 Cr more revenue
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 22 2018: Revenue collected by Transport Department increased by around Rs 4 crore this financial year as compared to the previous financial year, Chief Minister N Biren informed the Manipur Legislative Assembly today.

In the course of discussing a demand pertaining to Transport Department, N Biren stated that Transport Department collected revenue of around Rs 29 crore during the current financial year till January.

The corresponding figure for the previous year was Rs 25 crore.

With the revival of Manipur State Transport, public transport has reached certain areas of the State which hitherto remained untouched.

Even though a bus of standard length was sent to Pherzawl, it could not reach its destination due to bad road.

As such, the State Government has been considering introducing a mini-bus on Imphal-Pherzawl route.

Issuance of permits to diesel autos stopped in 2015 and no new permits would be issued.

The Government has been working on a plan to reduce congestion at Khwairamband.

To check road accidents, a special drive has been launched against those holding forged driving licences.

The process of issuing smart (driving licence) cards is underway in all districts, the Chief Minister informed the House while assuring that he would look into the alleged poor quality of the smart cards.

The Government has been planning to introduce ferry/ boat service along the course of Barak River under the Inland Waterways Authority of India for transportation of goods and people.

The new initiative would be fully funded by the Central Government, Biren said.

While discussing another demand for grant pertaining to Relief and Disaster Management, N Biren who is in charge of the department stated that the State Government sought monetary assistance of Rs 437 crore to help victims of Cyclone Mora and the Central Government is likely to release Rs 110 crore soon.

During the last 10 years, the State Government released Rs 10 crore to the DCs concerned forthe relief of people affected by Cyclone Mora.

There is an instruction to construct buildings in such a way that impacts of earthquakes are minimised but the buildings already constructed cannot be dismantled.

As such, the Governmenthas been facing a difficult situation, Biren told the House.

Cooperation Minister Nemcha Kipgen that the total number of registered cooperative societies in the State is 9278 and their total members is 7,39,961.Cooperative societies which have become defunct would be identified soon in consultation with officials concerned.

Nemcha Kipgen said this while discussing a demand pertaining to Cooperation.

With due permission of the State Cabinet, TP cell has been revived and it has four Executive Engineers and 64 staff.

The process of appointing Chief Engineer has also been initiated, she said.

In the course of discussing a demand for Youth Affairs and Sports, Letpao Haokip who is in charge of the department dismissed that no sports infrastructure have been developed.

He said that Khuman Lampak Sports Complex is a multi-disciplinary sports complex and new sports infrastructure are being developed at district headquarters and sub-divisional headquarters.

Chandel District Sports complex was developed by MDS and construction of the main building has been completed.

MTDC has been constructing a playground at Parbung, Pherzawl district and the same work has been completed by 30 per cent.

The practice of giving cash incentives to outstanding sports persons was introduced in 1984 and the same practice has been going on till date.

Cash incentives range from Rs 500 to Rs 3 lakh as per the guideline.

There is 5 per cent reservation for recruitment of meritorious sports persons in Government jobs but the same reservation policy would not be applied if it is technical post or the sports persons do no fulfil necessary qualification, Letpao Haokip informed the House.

YAS Department never discriminated sports persons based on community or ethnicity, he added.

Talking about National Sports University, Letpao said that a Bill should be first passed by the Parliament.

Nonetheless, some vacant rooms of Khuman Lampak Sports Complex have been converted into classrooms and two courses have been opened.

Already 26 students have been enrolled.

AMFA is registered under the Manipur Societies Registrations Act 1989.It has its own bylaws and it functions as an autonomous body.

There is no room for the Government to interfere in the functions and activities of AMFA, Letpao clarified.

There are reports about confrontation between AMFA and nine football clubs, Letpao said while assuring that he would see what he can do to resolve the matter.

Later the House passed four demands amounting to Rs 172,07,92,000 including Rs 15,29,27,000 for Transport, Rs 26,12,26,000 for Cooperation, Rs 78,44,03,000 for Youth Affairs and Sports and Rs 52,22,36,000 for Relief and Disaster Management.

The demands were tabled by Finance Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar and Opposition Members Dr Chaltonlien Amo, K Meghachandra, Md Abdul Nasir and Md Fazur Rahim raised policy cut motions and K Ranjit gave his observations.

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