Governor Ganesan addresses House, highlights key achievements
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, March 24 2022: Governor of Manipur La Ganesan addressed the first session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on Thursday and highlighted activities and achievements of the government in the past year.

After arriving at the Assembly, Governor Ganesan was accorded guard of honour by a contingent of Manipur Police.

He was then escorted inside by House leader CM N Biren and newly elected Speaker Th Satyabrata.

The Governor started off his speech by welcoming and congratulating the newly elected Members of the House and said: "I am hopeful that individually and collectively, you will uphold the values enshrined in the Constitution of India".

In his address, the Governor also spoke about Covid-19 pandemic and healthcare, stating that the pandemic continued to pose challenges during last year.

Nevertheless, the proactive efforts of the Government to accelerate vaccination programme against COVID-19 helped in facilitating opening up of economy and in picking up the pace of developmental works, he said.

The Governor said: "During the second wave of the pandemic, there was increased demand for medical oxygen.

Stock of D' type oxygen cylinders was increased from just 25 to 6,328 within two months while 24 PSA Oxygen Generation Plants were commissioned in the past one year alone covering all 16 districts.

Moreover, two Liquid Medical Oxygen Storage Plants with capacity of 10 KL at JNIMS and 20KL at Veterinary Complex, Porompat were commissioned.

Another LMO Plant of 20KL is also ready to be commissioned at COVID Hospital, Kiyamgei, he said, adding that about 480 Ventilators, 3,145 Oxygen Concentrators and 20,000 Pulse Oximeters were used.

In the past one year, five families of Healthcare Workers who died due to COVID-19 while performing duties were compensated with Rs 50 lakh per family under PM Garib Kalyan Package, he added.

"District hospitals in Tamenglong and Ukhrul districts have now been upgraded to 100 bedded hospitals, Trauma Care Centre in Bishnupur district was inaugurated and foundation stone laid for 150 bedded Cancer Hospital at INIMS," he maintained.

Regarding law and order and justice delivery, the Governor said: "During 2021, in counter-insurgency measures, security forces arrested 234 extremists and neutralised 15 extremists while 14 people were detained under NSA and 20 UG cadres surrendered.

Security forces also recovered 167 firearms, 3,115 assorted ammunition, 253 IEDs, 27 Lathode bombs and 360 numbers of detonators.

"Under the government's "War on Drugs", massive seizures were made, including 87 kg of Heroin, 1320 kg of Brown Sugar, 505 kg and 80 litres of Opium, nearly 10 lakh tablets of psychotropic drugs and over 64 kg of WY (Amphetamine) during 2021 .

In all, 42 cases were registered and 20 disposed of under ND &PS Act 3,424 acres of illicit poppy cultivation were destroyed," he added.

On the matter of finance and planning, La Ganesan stated that various projects with funding from North Eastern Council are being taken up.

Improvement of Bishnupur - Nungba Road and Water supply projects at Ramrei in Ukhrul and Top Dusera in Imphal East have been completed, while the water supply project for Tamukhong in Imphal East is nearing completion.

Construction of mini stadium at Parbung has been completed and another at Senapati Public ground is in progress.

Under the Hill Area Development Programme (HADP) being implemented in Tamenglong and Noney districts, out of 41 projects worth over Rs 98 crore, 16 projects have been physically completed, he said.

Regarding tribal affairs, minorities and SC & OBC welfare, the Governor said: "The Government provided assistance to 1,708 ST families under various family-oriented programmes and to 100 tribal women organisations for carrying out various activities.

A total of 1,196 ST families were also provided GCI sheets roofing for their dwelling house and altogether, 51,488 ST students were extended Pre and Post-Matric Scholarships.

"As a part of infrastructure development under Autonomous District Councils in health sector, PSA Oxygen Generator Plants with capacity of producing 200 cylinders per day were installed in 6 District Hospitals in hill districts, in addition to procurement of 6 Advanced Life Support Ambulances and 12 Basic Life Support Ambulances for use in hill districts under the grant of the 15th finance commission.

Pledging the government's commitment for welfare of minorities, OBC and SC communities in the state, he said four hostels for SC students and four hostels for OBC students are being constructed with a total project cost of Rs 28 crore under Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana and scheme for Construction of OBC Boys and Girls Hostel.

While highlighting the achievements under the Prime Minister's Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK), the Governor then said that under the National Food Security Act, automation of all Fair Price Shops in the state and 100 per cent Aadhaar seeding of all ration cards in the state was achieved.

State Commission and District Consumer Forums are functioning to safeguard the rights of beneficiaries, he said.

"For education, the government continued to make efforts to improve the overall education sector in the state and highlighted schemes.

In the wake of restrictions imposed by Covid-19 pandemic, web-based digital platform named Moodie Learning Management System was introduced in 45 Government and Government Aided Colleges of Manipur for teaching and learning interventions," he said, while also highlighting the Chief Minister's College Maheiroisingi E-Support Scheme, University and Higher Education Digital Support Scheme, School Fagathansi Mission, etc.

Regarding the Power Sector, Ganesan said: "The Government is committed to ensure quality and reliable power supply in the state.

With commissioning of 400 kV D/C transmission lines between Silchar - Imphal and Imphal - New Kohima - New Mariani at its rated voltage, the Available Transmission Capacity (ATC) of interstate transmission has been enhanced considerably to about 2,000 MW to cater to the power requirement of the state for the next 10 to 15 years.

In the past year, one 400/132kV Substation in Thoubal and eight 33/11kV sub-stations were operationalised".

For Agriculture & Allied Activities and Natural Resources, 6.19 lakh farmers have been enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM KISAN) scheme.

He then highlighted the Sub Mission on Agriculture Mechanisation, RKVY- RAFTAAR and National Food Security Mission, Soil Health Card and Soil Health Management, etc.

Efforts continue to be made to ensure long term survival of Manipur Brow Antlered Deer (Sangai) and protection of Amur falcon.

With regard to Pisciculture, Veterinary & Animal Husbandry sector, he said the production capacity of fish has been increased to 36,000 MT per annum during the past 5 years with persistent efforts, thereby helping in reducing imports from outside the state.

On Water Resources and Management, the Governor stressed that providing assured irrigation is critical for accelerating growth in agriculture sector having about 2.3 lakh hectares of net cultivable area.

For improving Water Supply system in Imphal area, Phase-III of "Integrated Water Supply for Imphal Planning Area" costing Rs 990.46 crore is being taken up under NDB funding and targeted for completion by December, 2022 .

Water Supply Scheme for 25 other towns is also being targeted for completion by 2023, he informed.

"On Connectivity (Works & Transport), two works sanctioned under NEC, namely, construction of Inter-State Truck Terminus at Sekmai and improvement of road from Mualdak to Kolhen diversion road via Munlui, have been completed in the current year.

In addition, the government has taken up several strengthening Work of national highways, improvement and construction of roads under different funds including the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) and ADB.

With funding from HUDCO, the completion of the remaining work of Civil Secretariat Complex at Mantripukhri and construction of VVIP State Guest House - "Shanglen" are being taken up", the Governor informed the House.

Regarding urban planning and development, he informed that under the PM-SVANidhi Scheme, 8,461 street vendors have been provided working capital loan to resume their livelihoods during the pandemic.

He also highlighted Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) - Housing for All Mission, Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihood Mission (DAY-NULM), Imphal Smart City Mission, development of Kangla Nongpok Torban and Thanga Lambi.

He continued: "For Rural Development, construction of 9,716 houses has completedagainst a target of 9,740 under Phase-I of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana - Gramin.

Under Phase-II, 4,012 have been completed out of a total target of 8,900 houses.

For 2020-21, out of a total target of 15,842 beneficiaries, 15,047 beneficiaries have been sanctioned housing units.

Meanwhile, construction of road length of 430 km has been completed during the year under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana- I and II".

Governor Ganesan then highlighted the "Chief Minister's Widow Pension Scheme, National Disability Pension Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Chief Ministergi Shotharabasingi Tengbang, ADIP scheme, Rashtriya Vayoshree Yojna (RVY), etc.

The number of beneficiaries under the Manipur Old Age Pension Scheme was increased from 66,738 to 82,738 by providing additional fund of Rs 3.84 crore for 16,000 additional beneficiaries.

"For Textiles, Commerce and Industries, considering the hardship faced by the MSME sector due to the Covid - 19 pandemic, rent payable totalling more than Rs 16 Lakh for work sheds in three industrial Estates were waived.

Construction of Industrial Estate in Ukhrul is completed, and establishment of industrial estates in Imphal East and Senapati districts at a total project cost of about Rs 21.93 crore has also been sanctioned.

Mega Food Park for Manipur State is also being set up at Yaithibi Khunou," he informed.

Regarding Tourism, the Governor conveyed that to boost the tourism sector, various tourism infrastructures were completed during the year.

These include Cheiraoching Eco Tourism Project, Integrated Tourists Circuit Imphal- Tamei, Integrated Tourists Destination at Longa Koireng and Longmai, Development of Spiritual Circuit - Shree Govindajee Temple, Shree Kaina Temple - Shree Bangsibudon Temple, Shree Gopinath Temple,and Shree Bijoy Govindajee Temple under Swadesh Darshan Scheme.

He further highlighted the construction of the 'Manipur Olympian Park'.

The park will stand as testimony to Manipur as the 'Powerhouse of Sports'.

Under Khelo India Scheme, football fields and RCC galleries at Hiyangthang and Hao Ground were completed.

Construction of football fields and RCC galleries has been started at 8 blocks, he added.

For Art & Culture sector, Ganesan stated that to nurture, propagate and preserve the cultural heritage of Manipur, various works were taken up during the year, including the memorial complex of exiled heroes of the Anglo-Manipuri War, 1891 at BT Park.

He also highlighted the achievement under "Chief Ministergi Artiste Singgi Tengbang" .

Comment