Open to talks with militant groups: Governor
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 14 2020: The State Government led by Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren has made it clear that it is open to talks with all insurgent groups.

Giving her customary address at the inaugural sitting of the 10th session of 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly, Governor Dr Najma Heptulla stated that over 644 cadres of various insurgent groups have joined the mainstream subsequent upon signing a Memorandum of Understanding.

The Government is committed to restoring peace in the State and there has been remarkable improvement in the security environment of the State, the Governor stated.

Open to talks with militant groups: Governor

Asserting that the Government is committed to build a people friendly police establishment, Dr Najma informed the House that the Government would be introducing motorcycle mounted mobile patrolling teams.

During the current year, about 18 Kgs of heroin and around 68 lakh WY tablets were seized by security forces.

More than 3000 acres of poppy cultivation were destroyed, Many makeshift units used for making heroin and brown sugar were destroyed, read the Governor's address.

In order to deliver speedy justice, the Government has decided to open two fast track special Courts for trial of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) cases and rape cases in a time bound manner.

The Government is committed to the welfare of prison inmates and has opened two legal aid clinics at Manipur Central Jail, Imphal and Manipur Central Jail, Imphal for providing free legal aid.

Proposal is under consideration to open creche and nursery school for the children of women inmates.

On the State's financial condition, the Governor said that the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) at the current prices for 2019-20 is estimated at Rs 30,131 crore which is a growth of 16 per cent over 2018-19.With assistance from the Ministry of DoNER, 165 projects worth Rs 1661 crore were taken up under NLCPR.

Out of these 165 projects, 135 projects costing Rs 781 crore have been completed.

For the remaining 30 ongoing projects, assistance of Rs 560 crore has been received and the Government is committed to complete them soon, Dr Najma said.

With assistance from the Ministry of DoNER, North East Special Infrastructure Development Schemes (NESIDS) is being implemented for bridging infrastructure gaps in water supply, power, connectivity, tourism and primary and secondary sectors of education and health.

Ministry of DoNER has sanctioned a pilot project namely Hill Area Development Programme (HADP) which is being implemented in Tamenglong and Noney districts.

A total of 41 projects worth Rs 98 crore are being implemented under this programme.

Two more Eklavya Model Residential Schools are being constructed at Loktak, Churachandpur and Riha village, Kamjong for providing quality residential education to tribal children.

Three additional Eklavya Model Residential Schools at Mao/Maram, Nungba Block, Noney and Chandel have been sanctioned, the Governor informed the House.

During the current year, 11 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas and seven residential schools were upgraded to Class 10 or 12 from class 6-8.The Government is committed to promotion of Meetei Mayek and Manipuri language textbooks and reference books have been converted into Meetei Mayek from Class I to BA 6th semester.

Online Manipuri dictionary and Manipur dictionary apps have been made available for general use.

A comprehensive proposal for declaration of Manipuri language as a classical language is being prepared, the Governor informed the House.

Steps have been taken up to set up a Government Engineering College at Heirok under Rashtriya Uchhatar Shiksha Abhiyan.

A proposal is being submitted to the Government of India to establish a state of the art and world class central laboratory for Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry and Life Sciences.

Regarding power sector, the Governor said that at present, 31 new 33/11 KV sub-stations and two new 132/33 KV sub-stations under various funding agencies are being implemented.

The 400/132 KV sub-station at Thoubal is completed and the associated 400 KV D/C line is also nearing completion.

Both the 400 KV sub-station and line are targeted to be commissioned soon.

The existing Loktak Lift Irrigation, which is under-utilised will be developed under Extension Renovation and Modernisation (ERM) programme to restore irrigation potential of 40,000 hectares at a revised cost of Rs 139 crore.

Under Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP-II), Singda Multipurpose Project and Imphal Barrage Project will be renovated at the cost of Rs.86 crore and Rs 119 crore respectively.

Phase-I of the Imphal Sewerage project covering 11 wards of Imphal municipality is now completed and trial run is going on and would be commissioned soon.

A poultry breeding farm at Ningthoukhong with a capacity of 10,000 parent stock and a hatchery unit to produce 60,000 low input technology birds per month is targeted for completion this year, Dr Najma said.

To save and conserve Manipuri Ponies and the State Policy on Conservation and Development of Manipuri Pony, infrastructure is being developed at Ebudhou Marjing Polo Complex, Heingang, she said.

Under UDAN scheme, Tamenglong, Jiribam, Moreh, Thanlon and Parbung have been identified for introduction of helicopter service.

A scheme for development of heliports at these five locations at an estimated cost of Rs 39.82 crore have also been approved which would be entirely funded by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Dr Najma informed the House.

She said that NEC has sanctioned Rs 147 crore for rehabilitation and upgradation of road from Kamjong to Kongkan Thana via Pilong.

The Barak Bridge and the Makru Bridge are scheduled for completion by December 2020.Under the Inter State Connectivity Scheme, two roads in Churachandpur, one connecting Lungthulien with Manipur-Mizoram border and the second connecting Khajang/Phaitong in Manipur to Daidou in Mizoram were sanctioned for Rs 124 crore.

A third road in Senapati district was sanctioned for Rs 29.32 crore for connecting Tabufii in Manipur with Kezhakheno in Nagaland.

One road work in Kamjong district costing Rs 7.02 crore sanctioned by Ministry of DoNER is targeted for completion soon, Dr Najma said.