Efforts on to hold ULB elections: CM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 17 2026: As discussed at a Cabinet meeting recently, the Government has been working to hold urban local body (ULB) elections at the earliest.

This was stated by Chief Minister Y Khemchand while discussing demands for grants in the State Assembly today.

Clarifying to a policy cut motion raised by Congress MLA Th Lokeshwar while discussing a demand for grant with respect to MAHUD, Khemchand stated that it would not be advisable for the House to fix a date of ULB elections as they need a recommendation from the Election Commission of India.

Nonetheless, the Government has been working to hold ULB elections as soon as possible, he said.

A Cabinet meeting has also called recommendations from stakeholders regarding Autonomous District Council (ADC) elections, Khemchand said.

Replying to an observation made by K Meghachandra, Khemchand maintained that drainage works have been going on in most municipal areas.

In IMC areas, some drains are also covered by the rigid pavement project, he chipped in.

The Chief Minister said that the problem of water-logging or flooding caused by clogged drains will be addressed considerably with the completion of works undertaken under the Imphal Smart City Project.

Even though IMC has been regularly collecting garbage and waste materials from Khwairamband Keithel, many people have been disposing of waste materials at improper places.

No specific sites or points have been designated for waste disposal.

NGOs have been collecting garbage from each household, Khemchand said.

The waste to energy project which was taken up in 2016 had started operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the project could not be fully completed.

The State Government has sent a proposal of Rs 33 crore to the Ministry of DoNER to complete the project, he said.

He informed the House that the urban housing scheme has been extended till September this year, and 20,795 houses have been built so far while 27,000 are yet to be built.

Under the rural housing scheme, money for construction of houses is released in advance.

But in urban areas, the first instalment is released only after the foundation part is completed.

As such, there are many families in urban areas who could not start house construction even though they have been selected for the housing scheme.

Moreover, the plot of the house should be in the names of housewives.

This entails more difficulties in the process of transferring the lands/plots in the names of the housewives, Khemchand said.

A masterplan for IMC and 26 other ULBs are being prepared and the authorities have been working to complete it within the current year, he said.

The Chief Minister informed the House that the due tender process has been completed for purchasing 12,000 solar street lamps under SACHI .

Replying to an observation made by K Meghachandra in the course of discussing a demand for grant pertaining to Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Department, Khemchand said that 222 cases related to corruption in Government departments were reported in the last five years.

Against these total 222 cases, 25 FIRs were registered, 149 were disposed of and charge sheets were submitted in 11 cases, he said.

Replying to a cut motion raised by Th Lokeshwar regarding Fire Protection and Control, Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam said that there are 29 fire sub-stations in the State including five which were opened recently.

Govindas said that a proposal has been sent to the Centre for opening one fire sub-station in each Assembly segment, additional sub-stations and recruitment of more manpower.

Clarifying to a policy cut motion raised by Meghachandra regarding PHED, Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho said that the time given for completion of water supply projects taken up under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) has been extended till December 2028.The State Government has been working hard to complete all JJM water supply projects within the extended period, he added.

In addition to the JJM projects, many other water supply schemes are being taken up in the State with funds from the New Development Bank (NDB) .

All NDB-funded projects are being executed smoothly except package nos 7 and 9, Losii Dikho said.

He said that pipes for these water supply schemes will be provided within two months.

The water supply scheme taken up under JJM at Charangpat Mamang has been completed by 90 per cent and the scheme has started supplying water to the public.

Nonetheless, the contractor has been served a show cause notice for not completing the project fully, Losii Dikho said.

All the NDB-funded water supply projects taken up in Imphal East, Ukhrul and Kamjong were allotted to a private company.

Out of the total amount of Rs 400 crore, Rs 156 crore are yet to be released, he said.

Later, the House unanimously passed seven demands for grants amounting to Rs 1258,86,94,000 .

The demands for grants passed today were Demand No 12--MAHUD (Rs 439,80,32,000), Demand No 22--PHED (Rs 711,16,32,000), Demand No 24--Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department (Rs 7,02,01,000), Demand No 28--Excise (Rs 13,70,49,000), Demand No 29--Sales Tax, Other Taxes/Duties on Commodities and Services (Rs 6,75,60,000), Demand No 31--Fire Protection & Control (Rs 26,35,50,000) and Demand No 33--Home Guards (Rs 54,06,70,000) .

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