Due gratuity amount to be released in March
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 21 2023: Existing dues of Commutation and Gratuity First Payment would be cleared next month while the existing ROP arrears would be released before June.

This was stated by Chief Minister N Biren while replying to a query raised by MLA Surjakumar Okram during question hour in the State Assembly today.

Biren said that the pending payment for pensioners is Rs 439 crore.

He said that 2 per cent of the State's resources is spent on payment of pensions.

A total of Rs 1750 crore would be spent in paying pension during the current financial year, he added.

Biren informed the House that there is no plan for restoration of the old Pension Scheme for Government employees of the state.

He maintained that the number of pensioners who have not got First Payment of Commutation and Gratuity are approximately 1121 .

These are mainly those who have retired in 2021 and 2022.However, almost all pensioners have received monthly pension, GPF, leave encashment.

There are presently 807 pensioners drawing provisional pensions or not opting for commutation.

Provisional Pension cases are mainly due to Court cases, ongoing departmental enquiry, Vigilance cases, he added.

Replying to a query raised by MLA K Ranjit, Forest, Environment & Climate Change Minister Th Biswajit said that 320.86 lakhs of tree saplings were planted from 2018 to 2022 and 60 per cent to 70 per cent of these saplings are now growing.

An amount of Rs 103.35 crore was spent on preparing saplings, plantation and in ensuring that they survived, Biswajit said.

To another query raised by K Ranjit regarding land tax collected from areas covered by the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act 1960, Chief Minister N Biren stated that the revenue expected in a year from land tax is Rs 6,33,26,446.54 .

The total amount/tax land owners owed to the Government till January 31, 2023 is 23,24,23,632.86, Biren said.

He said that computerisation of land records for both the hills and the valley has not been completed yet.

Nonetheless, the Government has set a target of completing the land record computerisation work by June this year.

The Government has also been working to introduce online payment of land taxes by March, Biren said.

Responding to a question raised by MLA Ngursanglur Sanate, Water Resources Minister Awangbow Newmai informed the House that a detailed study had been carried out on flood control and soil erosion along the course of Barak River from Senapati to Jiribam.

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