Governor's address to the Assembly: IT Park Phase-I to be ready by next month
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 25 2015: Governor Krishan Kant Paul has stated that phase-I of the Information Technology Park set up by the State Government at Mantripukhri adjacent to the STPI Centre which has office space of about 20,000 square feet would be ready for use by IT entrepreneurs and agencies by next month.

Giving his customary address on the opening day of the 10th session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly today, the Governor stated that an IT-SEZ was notified by the Government of India at Mantripukhri, adjacent to the IT Park.

Construction of the first building of the IT-SEZ has been started and targeted for completion by June 2016 .

With the establishment of the IT-SEZ, export oriented activities would be taken up, bringing revenue to the State.

It is expected that a few medium and large IT agencies can be attracted to set up offices at the IT-SEZ to generate employment for the local youth with IT qualifications.

The Manipur Legislative Assembly and inset Governor KK Paul

An Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) is being set up in Senapati district under the guidelines and partial funding from Ministry of Human Resource Development on a PPP model.

The IIIT would go a long way in ensuring availability of quality manpower in Manipur which is a critical component for a successful IT industry in the State.

The first academic session of the IIIT-Manipur is planned to commence from the 2015-16 at a temporary campus at Secure Housing Area Complex, Mantripukhri.

In the current year, the State has a tentative plan size of Rs 3200 crore which includes Rs 450 crore under SPA and Rs 800 crore under SCA.

According to the Governor's address, the State Government has been giving emphasis to completion of all ongoing projects taken up under SPA such as Tribal Areas Inclusive Growth Infrastructure Project in 27 blocks, barrack-type quarters for primary teachers under six ADCs, construction of facilities in JNIMS, State Secretariat, mini secretariat complexes in all district headquarters and three ADC headquarters and Manipur Sericulture Project Phase-II.

For development of border areas in the State, 323 different works are being taken up in the eight border blocks of Ukhrul, Chandel and Churachandpur under BADP with an allocation of Rs 22 crore.

Under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, banks in the State have been working hard for universal access to banking facilities for all households through a bank branch or business correspondent and they have been able to cover 99 per cent of the households in the State till January 28 this year.

In order to cater to banking and related needs of the people in the State, Reserve Bank of India has agreed to open a sub-office in Manipur and the State Government has already identified a site for the proposed sub-office.

Talking about law and order, the Governor stated that Manipur police with the help of Army/CPMF/AR, have been able to restrain and curb activities of UG groups to a large extent.

Activities of UG groups in the valley area have been checked to a large extent due to intensive counter-insurgency operations.

Similarly in the hill districts, area domination by SF/police compelled UG elements, specially valley based outfits, to seek refuge in the neighbouring countries like Myanmar, Bangladesh etc, apart from taking shelter in other States of the country.

There has been qualitative improvement in the security environment of the State, specially in the valley area, the Governor asserted.

The United Peoples' Party of Kangleipak (UPPK), the United Revolutionary front (URF) consisting of various KCP factions, KCP (Lamphel), KYKL (MDF), KCP (Nongdrenkhomba), UTLA (SK Thadou group), KCP (KK Nganba) and PREPAK have signed MoUs with Central and State Governments.

In all, 433 cadres belonging to these UG groups have laid down arms and process is on for their rehabilitation.

On December 15 last year, 58 cadres and leaders of three different UG groups including former Chairman of PREPAK N Nabachandra and former Finance Secretary of the same outfit Chinglen Meitei laid down arms to join the mainstream in a home coming ceremony held at 1st Bn MR banquet hall.

The State Government has been working hard to implement the National Food Security Act under which a total of 24.84 lakh beneficiaries (87 per cent of the total population) would be covered by TPDS.

In this endeavour, about 80 per cent of the ration cards have been digitized so far and it is expected to be completed within the current month.

To augment storage capacity, FCI has already initiated construction of additional 30,000 ton godowns in Imphal East, Chandel, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Churachandpur and Tamenglong.

With regard to the State's education sector, Dr KK Paul informed the House about the State Government's decision to fill up 285 posts of Assistant Professor for various subjects as per the latest UGC guidelines through MPSC.

Government of India has sanctioned Rs 98.40 crore for establishment of eight Polytechnics at the rate of Rs 12.30 crore for each Polytechnic.

With these, all districts in Manipur would have their separate Government Polytechnics.

Taking serious note of the power crisis plaguing the State, the State Government has taken part in the North East Transmission Company (NETC) with 6 per cent equity share in the construction of 400 KV D/C Pallatana-Silchar-Bongaigaon trunk transmission line for evacuation of power from Pallatana Gas Power Project and Bongaigaon Thermal Power Project.

PGCI has taken up construction of 400 KV double circuit line from Silchar to Imphal and it is expected to be commissioned next month.

In the meantime, four new hydropower projects namely; Irang Hydro Project (60 MW) in Tamenglong district, Tuivai Hydro Project (51 MW) in Churachandpur district, Pabram Hydro Project (190 MW) in Tamenglong district and Khongnem Chakha (67 MW) in Senapati district have been allotted to M/S NEEPCO Ltd for survey and investigation and formulation of DPRs.

Upgradation of Churachandpur district hospital from 100 beds to 200 beds, district hospitals of Chandel, Senapati, Tamenglong, Ukhrul and sub-divisional hospital of Moreh from 50 to 100 beds and CHC Kangpokpi to 50 beds is being taken up.

The State Government has also initiated necessary steps to establish an AYUSH Directorate and an urban health centre at Konok Khongnangkhong.

The Imphal Sewerage Zone-I comprising of thickly populated Imphal Municipality areas is now complete by about 88 per cent and the same project is expected to be fully complete by March 2016 .

A project for production of Nungbi pottery at Nungbi village, Ukhrul district is being taken up with assistance of the NEC for providing impetus to the local potential, skill and the unique products of the State, the Governor added.