'Reserving Assembly seats beyond State Govt'
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR
Imphal, July 31 2017:
Chief Minister N Biren has categorically stated that reservation of eight Assembly seats for the indigenous people of Manipur as demanded by Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA) is not within the State Government's authority.
As demanded by KSA, Opposition MLA RK Imo urged the Government during zero hour in the State Assembly today to reserve Wangkhei AC, Uripok AC, Sagolband AC, Thangmeiband AC, Jiribam AC, Sugnu AC, Bishnupur AC and Kangpokpi AC for the indigenous people as indigenous people are becoming minority in these Assembly segments due to incessant influx of non-local people.
Even though both students and police personnel sustained injuries in the course of KSA's agitation for protection of indigenous people, the question of registering FIR has been resolved after a dialogue, Biren informed the House.
The Government is deeply concerned with the issue of illegal migrants and would assess and discuss carefully the issue of illegal migrants in the State.
He assured the House that the Government would identify the number of migrants living in the State, would check the electoral rolls and spot verification would be done particularly in the eight Assembly segments.
If illegal migrants are detected during the verification process, he/she will be deported instantly, he added.
He appealed the student organizations to call off the current agitation regarding reservation of seats at eight Assembly Constituencies for indigenous people of the State.
Replying to the starred question raised by MLA D Korungthang, on whether there is any plan for infrastructure development of Tengnoupal police station, the Chief Minister said that the Government is making assessment of police infrastructure in the newly created Tengnoupal district.
He informed the House that a total number of 177 police personnel excluding Superintendent of Police have been posted in the district.
He further said that the Chief Ministers of the Border States including Manipur had a meeting with the Home Ministry and discussed about strengthening police stations located at border areas of the country.
Infrastructure development of Tengnoupal PS would be proposed in the next meeting, he assured.
Replying to a starred question raised by MLA S Bira on the number of Sangai in Keibul Lamjao and measures taken up to save Sangai from extinction, Minister for Forest and Environment T Shyamkumar said that total number of Sangai in Keibul Lamjao as per the survey conducted in the year 2016 is 260 whose total population was just 27 in the year 1985 .
The demarcation of the boundary of Keibul Lamjao National Park is still in process and will be completed soon, he added.
He maintained that to protect and save Sangai, methods and measures such as electric or solar fencing would be constructed after consultation with NGOs and officials of the Department, from illegal poaching of endangered Sangai.
Th Shyamkumar who is in charge of MAHUD said that 11 wards of Imphal Municipal Corporation and 5 towns of the State have been declared as Open Defecation Free areas by the Government of India.
The five towns are Kakching Municipal Council, Moirang Municipal Council, Bishnupur Municipal Council, Nambol Municipal Council and Lilong Imphal West Nagar Panchayat.
He stressed that 1130 latrines have been constructed in the State so far.
This was stated by the Minister while replying to a query raised by MLA Nambol N Loken on the cleanliness measures under the Swachh Bharat Mission in Imphal and other towns of the State.
The Minister further said that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has increased the Central share in providing financial assistance to construct the latrines to Rs 10,800 which was earlier fixed at Rs 4,000 .
Reminding about Health Minister L Jayantakumar's assurance to provide treatment to Hepatitis C patients free of cost, K Ranjit urged the Government to translate the assurance into action.
Kh Joykisan sought the attention of the Chief Minister who is also in charge of Home Department to the report that two trucks of Manipur have been detained by Nagaland Police at Khuzuma without any reason.