Crisis displaced 59,564 people of both communities: CM
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 05 2024:
Chief minister N Biren informed the legislature that a total of 59,564 people from both communities have been displaced by the crisis, with 11,133 houses destroyed.
The cabinet has approved an amount of Rs 1 lakh for each house destroyed.
According to the cabinet decision, the relief amount constituting 25 percent of the total allocated per house has been provided to 2792 families so far.
Responding to a query raised by opposition MLA K Ranjit in the assembly session on Monday, CM Biren stated that the state cabinet had approved Rs 1 lakh for each house destroyed in the crisis.
As of now, out of the total 11,133 houses burnt, 3446 have been verified, for which Rs 25,000 each have been credited to the personal accounts of 2792 households while verification for the remaining has been delayed due to confusion caused by the absence of house owners.
He also informed that an amount of Rs 1000 has been provided to the displaced individuals in four phases in addition to Rs 5000 each to labour card holders.
Responding to MLA Ranjit's another query related to agricultural lands, agriculture minister Th Biswajit said there is no specific survey record available on the extent of agricultural land destruction, though the agriculture department has identified approximately 1,437 hectares where structures have been erected, and around 135.56 hectares utilised for non-agricultural purposes.
According to the provisional report from the recently conducted 11th agriculture census for 2021-22, there are approximately 1,14,349 hectares of agricultural land in the hills and about 65,845 hectares in the valley.
Regarding MLA K Ranjit's posers about rise in price of cooking gas, CAF&PD minister L Susindro clarified that there is no artificial increase in the price.
He explained that out of the total of 25 convoys, only 10 were engaged in transportation of LPG via the national highways in June, 14 in July, and none in August due to a strike.
While attributing shortage of LPG gas in the state to law and order situation, the minister, however, expressed that with the strike called off and LPG convoys to resume service from Tuesday, cooking gas issue in the state will be resolved.
Minister Susindro also mentioned that a committee has been constituted to investigate instances of LPG refills sold in the black market.
In response to MLA Meghachandra's query about the non-completion of the Senapati District Sports Complex, chief minister N Biren informed that funds totalling Rs 14,51,83,344 were sanctioned for the construction in 2018 out of which only 70 percent of the work has been completed.
The matter has been delayed due to a CBI investigation.
Nevertheless, construction will soon resume using funds from alternate sources, he assured.
On the posers raised by opposition MLA Th Lokeshwar related to Manipur State Drug Testing Laboratory, health minister Dr Sapam Ranjan informed that recruitment for four post of analysts of the laboratory will be conducted under Rule 44 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules 1945.An advertisement to this effect was issued on February 27 this year.
However, due to missing essential qualifications in the initial notification, process is underway to rectify the oversight and issue fresh notice.
He further informed that currently, there is no post of Manipur State Drug Controller, with responsibility for the said position being managed by the director.
In 2024, the said task was entrusted to a senior drug inspector.
After retirement, another individual with 10 years of experience took over the role, elaborated the minister, adding that the cabinet is considering creation of the post.
He also assured to look into the need for appointing drug inspector in every district.
Regarding MLA Surjakumar Okram's question on setting up the 24th campus in Manipur under Aatmanirbhar Bharat scheme, Dr Ranjan conceded that the health department has not received any official information from the Ministry of Family Welfare.
The state government has consistently urged the central government to elevate a health institute in the state to the status of AIIMS, which would be a significant development for Manipur, he added.
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