ST demand for Meiteis has never been sidelined: Biren
CM looks back at year gone by with satisfaction
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 31 2021: Chief Minister N Biren has claimed that the BJP led Government has delivered the assurance given earlier to bring peace in the State and focus on inclusive development.

The Chief Minister also prayed for the New Year 2022 to take Manipur to even greater heights.

Speaking to media persons at the CM Secretariat, the Chief Minister reiterated that the State Government has delivered most of the assurance they had given earlier with bandhs and blockades becoming a thing of the past.

The State could achieve such milestones due to the constant support from the people, he added.

Stating that the State Government introduced the War on Drugs campaign to save the youth from falling into the grip of drug abuse, N Biren contended that large acres of poppy plantation have already been destroyed.

ST demand for Meiteis has never been sidelined: Biren

"To give strength to the campaign, the State has taken approval from the Centre to take legal actions against those persons whose lands are being used for poppy plantations," he added.

The much sought Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) has also been implemented in the State to regulate the entry of non locals, N Biren said and continued that the Government is considering reinforcing the permit system by incorporating more guidelines.

On the demand of including Meetei/Meitei in the Scheduled Tribe list, the Chief Minister assured that the State will do what is needed once the argument regarding the same has been cleared.

"The State Government has never sidelined the ST demand for Meitei/Meetei," he said.

N Biren further maintained that State forces are being deployed to protect the boundaries of Manipur and check illegal entry of non locals.

He said that the border fencing works being taken up in areas bordering Myanmar is at undisputed sites.

A talk has also been initiated with the External Affairs Ministry to bring a political solution for land disputes of the State, the Chief Minister informed.

Most of the National Highways in Manipur have also been renovated, N Biren said and continued that the inauguration of Makru Bridge was a big achievement for the State.

Preparations are underway to inaugurate the Barak Bridge during the Prime Minister visit to Manipur, N Biren said and added that the construction of Irang Bridge might also be completed by June 2022 while Railways is likely to reach Khongshang by March next year.

About 4,46,000 beneficiaries have been benefited by Chief Minister gi Hakselgi Tengbang, he said and added that the State has spent about Rs 72.1 crore on this scheme alone.

He maintained that Manipur has been able to perform well in varied sectors and had topped in several categories of good governance as published by India Today.

N Biren also said that the Government is discussing measures to avoid the spread of Omicron, a variant of coronavirus which was first detected in South Africa.

The Chief Minister sought support from the people as well as political parties in preventing the spread of the Omicron variant and urged them to conform to the standard operating procedures of Covid.

N Biren urged the Police Department to take action against those who flout traffic rules.