7th session of State Assembly starts
New land use policy on the card; figures in Governor's address
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 24 2014 : With a view to ensure development at higher and sustainable level of land based economic activities in all parts of the State, the State Government is planning to evolve a New Land Use Policy, Governor VK Duggal stated in his customary address on the opening day of the 7th session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly today.

Under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), soil testing infrastructure in the State is being improved besides promoting water harvesting, providing improved inputs and wide demonstration of the new techniques of agriculture.

Construction of soil testing laboratory at Porompat is almost complete apart from the three mobile soil testing vans launched recently.

With the Special Plan Assistance of Rs 450 crore, several infrastructure projects are under implementation.

Besides the ongoing projects in the areas of health, road, connectivity, power and hill development, new projects have been taken up for setting up of an Information Technology Special Economic Zone (IT SEZ) at Mantripukhri, construction of six Children Homes, Flood Control and Anti-Erosion schemes for hill and valley districts, augmentation of security infrastructure in hill districts, strengthening and modernisation of the existing Rice Research Station, Wangbal, he said.

Governor areriving at the Assembly to deliver the customary address to the House

This year, assistance of Rs 48.02 crore was secured from the Ministry of DoNER and Rs 65.29 crore from the NEC.

Under various programmes of this nature, the flow of funds to the hill areas ranges from 38 per cent to 78 per cent.

Although more than 60 UG outfits are operating in the State, the State Government, realizing that counter insurgency operations alone cannot solve the problems of insurgency, invited various UG groups for negotiation.

UPPK, URF consisting of various KCP factions, KCP (Lamphel), KYKL (MDF), KCP (Nongdrenkhomba) and UTLA (SK Thadou) responded positively and have signed MoUs with the Central and State Governments.

In all over 450 cadres belonging to these UG groups have laid down arms and process is on for their rehabilitation.

The State Government is in Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact with KNO, UPF, KNLF and PRA.

The Governor also mentioned about various reformative measures taken up by Jail Department at Manipur Central Jail, Imphal and Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa with a view to enable prisoners come back to normal life after their release from jail.

To facilitate safe, convenient and affordable accommodation to tribal girl students, eight girls' hostels are under construction and construction of seven tribal markets has been taken up at different places in the hill areas.

Maintaining that the State Government is committed to strengthening the functioning of the Autonomous District Councils, the Governor informed the House that the Government would put in more efforts to make the ADCs more effective by devolving more powers and functions.

The National Food Security Act 2013 would cover 24.84 lakh people or 87 per cent of the total population of Manipur as per 2011 Census.

Priority households would get 5 Kg of foodgrains per person per month and Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households would get 35 Kg of foodgrains per household per month under the Act, stated the Governor.

At the initiative of the State Government, the Government of India has approved Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya and Residential School in all the districts and they are now functional.

Further, the Government has taken up construction of 2507 additional classrooms.

Out of 82 MW of power entitled to the State from the Pallatana Gas Power Project and Bongaigaon Thermal Project, Manipur is already receiving 21 MW.

Meanwhile, 202 remote villages/hamlets have been electrified through solar home lighting systems.

A project for conservation of Mithun (Sandang) is being implemented in Churachandpur, Senapati and Ukhrul at a total cost of Rs 3.42 crore with central assistance.

For establishment of a Manipuri Pony Complex, an area of 23.33 acres has been allotted near Marjing Hill at Heingang, Imphal East district.

The State Government has taken on a 30 year lease an area measuring 10,781.63 Sq metres near Bangalore University from Bangalore Development Authority on payment of Rs 4,59,37,196 for construction of a Manipur Bhavan there.

Construction work of Manipur Bhavan at Ulubari, Guwahati by the State PWD is completed and formal inauguration of the building would be done shortly, the Governor informed the House.