Red beacon & siren for only five VIPs in State
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 16 2014: Putting a Supreme Court's decree into action, the State Cabinet Monday decided to limit the number of red beacon lights and siren users to only five VIPs in the State.

A Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh here has decided to ban use of red beacon light and siren on all VIP vehicles with exception to that of the Governor, Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker and Chief Justice of High Court of Manipur, Government spokesperson and Education Minister M Okendro told reporters after the meeting.

Henceforth, the privilege of using red beacon lights and siren on the vehicles of all Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, top Government officials and the Chief Secretary will be withdrawn and a notification in this regard will be issued by the authority concerned within a week's time, Okendro said.

However, the Cabinet also decided that the DGP of Manipur Police and Chief Secretary would be requested to review the decision and ensure its proper implementation, he added.

As for Manipur Police, they may be given given the right to use red beacon lights and siren only during emergencies, Okendro said, adding that for Fire and Medical services, blue beacon lights can be used.

He noted that the decision on red beacon lights and siren has become a matter of urgency as there have been security problems and other inconveniences created to the general public by the VIPs.

"Any violator will be subjected to a severe form of penalty as per the law," the Government spokesperson warned.

Saying this, Minister Okendro removed the red beacon lights from his official vehicle in front of the journalists.

He further said that Ministers and MLAs should attach name plates mentioning their designations in case of Ministers and names of constituencies in case of the MLAs.

The Ministers and MLAs should stick a label 'On Duty' on the vehicles while on official duty and cover the name plates while on private visit like attending religious and wedding ceremonies and other cultural events.

On other agendas of the Cabinet meeting today, Minister Okendro informed that the State Cabinet has approved to acquire 3,000 acres of land for developing a new township at Chandel district's Haolenphai village located along Indo-Myanmar border.

Government representatives will be sent to Haolenphai soon to meet and impress upon the village chiefs and chairmen for the purpose.

The proposed township will have a cultural centre and also a godown for hoarding goods to be exported to neighbouring Myanmar, Okendro added.

Apart from developing a tourist spot and infrastructure for a health care centre where people from both Moreh and Myanmar can access, space for developing an information technology park will be kept reserved in the planned township, the Minister disclosed.

Today's Cabinet meeting also recommended Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) to impose a fine of Rs 5,000 to any individual (s) littering around Imphal city and throwing garbage into the rivers.

This is to keep Imphal neat and clean, the Minister added.

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