CM tells success tales as state celebrates Independence Day
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, August 16 2021: The state joined rest of the country in celebrating the 75th Independence Day on Sunday, with chief minister N Biren Singh hoisting the National tricolour amid the national anthem played at the 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles parade ground.

The chief minister reviewed the guard of honour and took salute from 12 march-past contingents commanded by SP (CID/Technical) Anupam.

Contingents of BSF, CRPF, Civil Police, India Reserve Battalion, Home Guards, VDF personnel and NCC took part in the march-past parade.

Speaking on the occasion, N Biren asserted that Manipur has achieved remarkable progress and development in the past four years and a half.

Stating that the law-and-order situation has seen significant improvement, the chief minister said that 1039 UG cadres belonging to different outfits have laid down arms to date - the most recent being 20 cadres of Thadou People's Liberation Army and valley based groups who surrendered in March 2021.The government's pro-active efforts to make Manipur a blockade and bandh-free state to ensure its all-round development has resulted in drastic decrease of bandhs and blockades over the last few years, he said and added that Manipur was awarded the 'Most Improved Small State' in overall and law and order category in the annual 'State of the States' survey carried out by India Today.

The chief minister further stated that Nongpok Sekmai police station was named the best police station in the country for the year 2020, and sub-inspector M Priyadarshini Devi of Kakching police station was awarded the Union Minister's Medal for Excellence in Investigation, 2021 .

To check illegal infiltration and smuggling activities, Behiang police was set up in 2019, he added.

Regarding the 'War on Drugs' campaign, he said that narcotics cells had been established in all the districts.

Maintaining that one should never polit-icalize the issues related to drug menace, Biren said that in the past four years and a half, the state's law enforcement agencies seized more than 1,000 kg of opium and derivatives, more than 100 kg of heroin and many other contraband substances.

Many clandestine brown sugar improvised laboratories had also been busted, he added.

He further informed that one Fast Track Court for trial of ND&PS cases was established in 2018.The Court had disposed 314 cases with 51 convictions.

Further, the Special ND&PS Court had also disposed 962 cases, with 87 convictions since January 1, 2017 .

Manipur Police had also arrested Kyaw Kyaw Naing (Myanmar national) - an international drug dealer, he added.

N Biren maintained that poor farmers who were affected due to destruction of poppy plantations had been assisted by the government towards taking up farming of other economically viable horticultural crops on a sustainable basis.

The farmers of Peh (Paoyi) village of Ukhrul district was awarded a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for voluntarily destroying poppy plantations.

About 130 farmers of the village had been enrolled under Phase-III of MOVCDNER as beneficiaries.

During 2020-21, 120 kg of quality seeds of Fl hybrid cabbage, 4000 kg of quinoa and 20 MT of ginger would be distributed to farmers for alternative means of livelihood for target area of 460 ha (1136 acres) at 5 (five) poppy affected districts, he informed.

Stating that improvement, in law and order allows the state to reap the benefits of peace and Manipur continues to excel in several areas, the chief minister said that in the second edition of Indian Innovation Index, 2020 prepared by NITI Aayog, Manipur was ranked third position under North-Eastern and Hill states category and first position in the NE states category.

N Biren Singh said that Chief Ministergi Hakshelgi Tengbang was recognized and awarded as the best designed health insurance scheme by the Indian Express Group while Chandel district topped the Delta Ranking of 112 districts for June.

2021 under Aspirational District Programme of NITI.

Aayog.

MSPJDCL had been awarded the Best Performance Improvement Award & Overall Winner: Innovation with Impact Award for North Eastern States among all the distribution companies in the country in the 7th Innovation with Impact Awards for Discoms 2019.MSPDCL also received 'Overall Innovation with Impact Award (North Eastern States)' in 14th India Energy Summit 2021, he said.

The chief minister said that the central government had rendered invaluable assistance to Manipur during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the second wave, medical oxygen capacity had been ramped up in the state.

Two LMO Plants of 10 KL and 20 KL and two PSA oxygen plants had been installed at Porompat.

PSA oxygen plants had been installed in Churachandpur, Thoubal, Chandel, Ukhrul and Senapati districts.

Similar plants would be installed in the remaining districts as well, he said.

Earlier, there were only 25 D-type and 117 B-type oxygen cylinders compared to which the state current ly has 5438 D-type and 335 B-type cylinders in addition to 2624 oxygen concentrators from not even one earlier, the chief minister said.

In order to tackleCOVID-19, manpower capacity in the Health Department has been ramped up to meet the huge challenge.

Altogether, 317 doctors, 596 staff nurses, 530 MTS and 50 drivers are being engaged on contract or daily wages.

Altogether, 41 ambulances are currently deployed with 29 being procured recently and 20 ambulances allotted to the hill districts, Biren maintained.

He added that 14 COV1D Treatment Centres are functioning in district hospitals and larger CHCs besides 28 COVID Care Centres set up in all the districts and 142 Community Home Isolation Centres (CHIC) established in all the Assembly Segments with support of MLAs.

Altogether 4,198 treatment beds are available today for COVID treatment, with 280 ICU beds.

The state has managed to scale up testing capacity and able to conduct total of 11.41 lakh tests with 1.06 lakh positive cases, he said and added that Genome sequencing for COVID virus has started in IBSD, Imphal.

The chief minister further stated that 14.25 lakh persons have received vaccine doses in the state with 2.6 lakh administered the 2nd dose.

Regarding drinking water, he said that the Phase-I of Water Supply Scheme in Tamenglong under NLCPR with an estimated cost of Rs 5968 lakh has been completed while the Phase-II is targeted for completion by November 2021, the chief minister said.

Stating that Water Supply Distribution Network for Churachandpur for promoting tourism has been completed under NESIDS with an estimated cost of Rs 24 crore to benefit 73,000 heads, he said that the project would extend water supply coverage to 15 habitations within Churachandpur HQs.

Augmentation of Senapati District headquarters Water Supply Scheme for promoting tourism is being taken up under NESIDS with an estimated cost of over Rs 42 crore.

The work is targeted for completion by October 2021, he informed.

Water Supply at Chingkheiching Is projected to prdvtde 45 MLD additional water supplies to Imphal city.

The project is completed and raw water availability is awaited from Thoubal Dam for trial run.

Construction of 375 surface minor irrigation schemes and 550 groundwater irrigation schemes for a total amount of Rs 296 crore for creating irrigation potent ial of nearly 11,700 Ha being taken up.

These projects-will be completed by November 2021, the chief minister said.

Stating that allocation of urea fertilizer for the Kharif season is 20,000 MT (4.4 lakh bags of 45 kg each).

Out of this, 2.8 lakh bags have already been lifted from Jiribam Rail Head to Imphal and 2.2 lakh bags allocated to cover both valley and hill districts so far for distribution at subsidized rate.

He said deputy commissioners are being involved to ensure that urea is distributed to all farmers uniformly and with a priority to areas facing scarcity.

Regarding road construction works, he said that the Imphal Kangchup-Tamenglong road is being constructed with funding from ADB, at a cost of about Rs 1440 crore.

Expansion work of Imphal-Ji ribam road is in full swing.

Six packages of Churachandpur-Tuivai road were awarded in 2020 and all project packages had achieved their first milestone on schedule time.

DPR is under preparation for Imphal-Moirang road.

Imphal-Moreh Package-2 had been inaugurated.

Construction of Elevated Corridor along Koirengei to Malom and Canchipur of Imphal City for a total length of 25 km is also being taken up under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The Ministry had allocated Rs 5000 crore for the project in the Annual Plan 2021-22.Preparation of DPR of the project is under progress, and an inception report had been submitted and the work is targeted for commencement by February, 2022, he added.

As the powerhouse of sports, the chief minister said, Manipur has so far produced 19 Olympians while five athletes represented the country at the Tokyo Olympics, to promote sports and encourage Olympians hailing from Manipur, the state cabinet approved creation of three posts of joint director for gold medallists, five posts of deputy director for silver/bronze medallists and 10 ten posts of assistant director for other participants in the Youth Affairs and Sports Department.

The government ad also identified 10 acres of government land for setting up Olympians' Park at Tairenpokpi village, Imphal West, he added.

Stating that the government continues to ensure full functioning of the universities, he said that regular vice-chancellors of Dhanamanjuri University, Manipur University of Culture and Manipur University had been appointed.

Moreover, 60 schools have been covered under the School Fagathansi Mission.

Enrolment of students had increased by 25% so far in these 60 schools, he said.

During the Independence Day celebration, the chief minister also handed over medals, commendation certificates and trophies to different armed personnel and government employees.

Inspector B Lunthang Vaiphei and havildar Md Samadur Rahaman were decorated with the Police Medal for Gallantry while the Union Home Minister's Medal for Excellence in Police Training, 2018-19 was presented to Jemadar K Priyojit Singh, rifleman Th Digbijoy Singh, rifleman W Surjit Singh and rifleman Kh Tomba Singh.

Chief Minister's Trophy for Community Service was awarded to Pherzawl SP Lakshay Sharma, inspector N Ingocha Singh of Imphal PS and constable N Romila Devi.

Chief Minister's Trophy for Anti-Drug Campaign was presented to Imphal West SP Dr S Ibomcha, subedar Y Shaktisen Singh and head constable Ibotombi Singh.

Chief Minister's Award for Good Governance (individual category) was awarded to ADGP L Kailun, secretary to CM N Geoffrey and joint secretary (finance) Neilenthang Telien, while Chief Minister's Award for Good Governance (team category) was handed over to Health Department, Home Department, Horticulture Department, Jiribam District, Senapati District, e-Office team and TA and Hills Department.

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