Centre disapproved highway protection force plan: CM
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 26 2022: Chief Minister N Biren said that the Centre has sanctioned Rs 80 crore for setting up 34 police stations along the international border from Churachandpur to Jessami, and site identification for the 34 police stations has been completed.

In response to questions raised by opposition member MLA K Meghachandra during the discussion on Budget Estimate 2022-23 in the ongoing state assembly session on Tuesday, Biren said that the government tried to establish highway protection force but the Centre advised against it citing possible similar demands from other states.

Later, the Centre approved the recruitment rally for 10th and 11th IRB to utilise the personnel in protecting the national highway.

Results of the recruitment are all set for announcement after the ongoing assembly session, he said.

Regarding setting up of police stations along the international border, Biren said that the project was sanctioned to check illegal smuggling activities along the border.

He also said that a security barrack will be constructed in Jiribam out of the Rs 80 crore fund allocation.

Mentioning about deployment of six bullet proof highway protection patrol vehicles fitted with GPS each along Imphal-Mao and Imphal Moreh highways, Biren said that 12 more such vehicles have arrived for utilisation along Imphal-Jiribam highway.

He also deliberated on the initiatives taken up by the government to protect forest and asserted that most of the timbers available in the state are brought in from Myanmar and the government had also rejected a proposal to set up a ply factory in the state.

Clarifying the misunderstanding regarding borrowing amount mentioned in the budget estimate, the CM said that it does not meant that the state government will borrow Rs 1800 crore from the open market but it simply stated the upper limit, which the government could borrow if the need arises, and it is based on the GSDP of the state.

There is need to borrow fund from the open market as there is strong instruction to repay funds sanctioned under central sector scheme if the same is not released to the beneficiaries by August 20.However, it is too early to say whether the government will reach the limit or not, he explained.

As for the matter related with construction of guest houses, the CM said that there are proposals of holding several national and international level events in the state and it would require proper accommodation for the delegates.

As of now, ambassadors of several G20 nations are expressing their desire to visit the state.

At the same time, preparations are on to host Durand Cup and Femina Miss India Beauty Contest in Imphal, he said.

International cricket teams want to play matches in Imphal and there are also proposals to host several northeast conferences.

It requires infrastructure development to host such events but there is no five-star hotel in the state.

The government had discussed the matter with Taj Group of Hotels for operating the guest houses and repaying the loan.

After repaying the loan after 10 or 15 years, the guest houses will remain as assets of the state, the CM said.

He also pointed out that not only Manipur but all the states of the country are experiencing poor financial condition and the government would require support from opposition to bring economic development.

As the state has limited revenue sources, it needs proper policy to increase the source and revenue as well.

The government is putting in efforts to streamline the financial system under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In the last budget, the government cut down budget for some departments and diverted the same towards health sector in order to save lives during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Biren also stressed the need for rainwater conservation to meet the water requirement for agricultural purposes, and told the House that the government had dug 300 tube wells to provide irrigation water to several farmlands.

Moreover, the government is planning to develop 1900 ponds as part of the 75th year of India's independence celebration.

There is also plan to distribute water pumps to farmers under minor irrigation and MOBC, he said.

Clarifying on the issue of urea, the CM said that the government did not issue any urea quota for any MLA but the fertilisers were distributed through them for the sake of wider and proper distribution.

There is no shortage of urea, it is simply a matter of time that the remaining farmers will receive their share of urea, he added.

Responding to a question on drug trade related with former ADC chairman Lhukhosei Zou and his daughter, Biren informed the House that neither the government nor the police released Lhukhosei Zou but was set free on the basis of a court order.

As for the seizure of drugs from a vehicle registered in the name of Lhukhosei Zou's daughter in Guwahati, the case will take its legal course and nobody will escape justice, he reasoned.

The CM further said that the government has prepared a special package to provide skill development training to the educated youths of the state as a joint venture between Tata and ITIs of the state.

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