Guv's address amid SHDDC bandh finds no mention of Sadar Hills
Sidhu's address stresses on law and order
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 01: Delivering his customary address in the opening session of the 9th Manipur Legislative Assembly (third session) today, Governor Dr Shivinder Singh Sidhu reiterated the SPF Government's commitment to resolve all issues through peaceful means.

On behalf of the Government, the Governor appealed to the youths who have taken up arms to lay down arms and adopt a democratic and peaceful means for resolution of the outstanding issues.

During the current year, 121 militants belonging to different underground organisations were eliminated while six cadres surrendered to the Government.

During the same period, 1296 militants were arrested in addition to 163 persons detained under NSA.

Moreover, 199 assorted weapons with a huge cache of ammunition and explosives were also recovered.

Governor Dr SS Sidhu delivering his address to the State Assembly

Stating that the Government has started implementation of an action plan to control violence in the State, Dr Sidhu elaborated that the plan consists of recruitment of 3,138 additional manpower in Police Department, setting up of women police stations including a women commando force, construction of police station buildings and residential accommodations, purchase of transport vehicles, communication equipment and weaponry.

Touching on the subject of plan outlay, the Governor reminded that annual plan outlay of 2008-09 has been finalised at Rs 1660 crores.

The thrust areas for the State are��raising food grain production, expanding area under horticulture, completion of the ongoing Khuga, Thoubal and Dolaithabi irrigation projects by 2009-10 and upgradation of basic infrastructure such as roads, power supply, water supply in hill and rural areas, Dr Sidhu asserted.

As Manipur is enjoying the advantage of producing all the four known varieties of natural silk��mulberry, oak tasar, muga and eri, the State Government has decided to seek further loan assistance from the Japanese Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) to implement Manipur Sericulture Project (Phase-II), the Governor informed the House.

The Manipur Sericulture Project (Phase-I) which was launched in 2005 with loan assistance of Rs 134.52 crores from the JBIC has made significant progress.

With the completion of the phase-I of the Project at the end of March this year, self employment would be created for 1000 Field Operating Units, 5000 individual farmers and 2000 ancillary units in the State, noted the Governor.

The Department of Seri-culture is also implementing a Catalytic Development Programme with financial assistance of Rs 1.12 crores from the Central Silk Board and Ministry of Textiles, he mentioned.

About the sports development initiatives of the Government, Dr Sidhu stated that the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports (YAS) has taken up constructions works of sports complexes at Senapati, Chandel, Thoubal and New Lamka Churachandpur and upgradation of Regional Water Sports Complex at Takmu, Bishnupur district under Special Plan Assistance.

Besides the Department is also taking up the construction of sports complexes at Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Churachandpur and Bishnupur under NLCPR.

The YAS Department is also constructing one indoor hall at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex and one cricket ground at Luwangshangbam under NEC plan.

Under the National e-Governance Plan, the SPF Government is setting up State Wide Area Network (SWAN) to connect the State capital to district headquarters and upto sub-divisional/block headquarters through optical fibre cable in association with the National Informatics Centre and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited.

To facilitate setting up of IT enabled service and software industry, the Government is taking up a project of upgradation of IT Park infrastructure at Mantripukhri with Special Plan Assistance on 30 acres of land.

This park has the potential to be converted into a Special Economic Zone for IT industry, the Governor informed the House.

Touching on health care facilities, Dr Sidhu informed about the State Government's proposal to construct one fifty bedded hospital each at Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong, Chandel and Jiribam.

He further stated that the JN Hospital is being upgraded to 300 bedded hospital and all efforts have been made to convert JN Hospital into Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences.

Highlighting various achievements of the SPF Government, the Governor asserted that the finances of the State have considerably improved and stabilized during the past year without resorting to overdraft or diversion of plan fund even once.

With the objective of plugging the leakages of funds and reforming the treasury administration, Finance Department, in collaboration with NIC has successfully created a comprehensive database of Manipur Government employees and is being effectively used to regulate drawal of sala ries and rationalise the deployment of staff as per sanctioned posts in various offices, the Governor claimed.

In order to attain the target growth rate of 10 percent per annum in vegetables production and 4 percent in horticultural crops, the Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation has taken measures for upgradation and development of Infrastructure Information Service, Multiplication of Foundation Seed Potato, control of shifting cultivation and land development for small and marginal farmers.

Of the two ongoing medium irrigation projects�Khuga Multipurpose Project and Dolaithabi Barrage Project, the latter is scheduled to complete by March next year.

The major Thoubal Multipurpose Project is also targeted for completion by the same time.

Under a major initiative to improve sanitary condition of Imphal city, the Government has started executing the Imphal Sewerage with French assistance at an estimated cost of Rs 134.75 crores, Dr Sidhu stated adding that the project is targeted for completion in October next year.

The Imphal city has also been included in the list of cities under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM).

The project on solid waste management for Imphal city at a cost of Rs 25.80 crores under JNURM has also been approved by the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India.

Keeping in view of the shortage of power in the State, the Government has started investigations on Irang Hydro Electric Project with 60 MW capacity and Tuivai Hydro Electric Project with 51 MW capacity.

Further, under the Central Sector Scheme, the Tipaimukh Hydro Electric Project with 1500 MW capacity and the Loktak Down Stream Hydro Electric Project with 66 MW are also being taken up, informed the Governor.

Reiterating that the Secular Progressive Front Government is committed not only to maintenance of peace, social harmony, better fiscal discipline and better governance but also to protect the territorial integrity of Manipur and also well being of the people of the State, the Governor concluded his address.