All MLAs vow to be War on Drugs warriors
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 03 2023: A private member resolution on the 'War on Drugs' was passed on the last day of the 3rd session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on Friday with all the 60 members pledging to contribute their mite for fruition of the anti-drug campaign.

Irrespective of political parties, all the members expressed support and suggestion on the resolution moved by leader of the House N Biren Singh.

Mention may be made that Opposition MLA K Ranjit had in the previous session of the assembly strongly called for declaring all the 60 members of the House as warriors of 'War on Drugs' campaign and demanded inclusion of the same in the Governor's speech.

However, chief minister N Biren had suggested that the issue could be discussed thoroughly by moving a Bill.

While moving the private member resolution on Friday, the chief minister said that provisions under the existing NDPS and other laws could not process harsh action against individuals arrested with drugs.

Accordingly, such people were released on bail by the court on the ground that the recovered drugs are not of substantial quantity meriting harsh punishment.

To take stringent action against drug traffickers so that they could no longer indulge in the illegal trade, the government consulted with experts and prepared an ordinance in 2020.During the tenure of Governor Najma Heptulla, the ordinance was sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs for taking concurrence and later tried to pass the ordinance as a Bill in the state assembly, Biren said.

According to CM Biren, the Centre is considering to amend laws related with psychotropic drugs in view of emerging impact of drug abuse so that drug traffickers could be given severe punishment while ensuring proper rehabilitation of the addicts.

He also informed that the state government will mount pressure on the Centre for approval of the ordinance.

While urging all the members of the House to talk with village chiefs, Church leaders, local leaders and clubs on ill-effects of drug trade, the chief minister said that the drug problem in the state could be completely solved when all the 60 MLAs work with sincerity on the issue.

Fencing work along India-Myanmar international border is being obstructed on the ground that it is carried out deep inside the state's territory.

However, the porous border areas are being used to push in drugs and hence people should think over how much the state is suffering due to leaving of international border un-fenced.

This does not mean that the government will compromise on boundary, he affirmed.

Joining in the discussion, Opposition leader 0 Ibobi Singh said that it would be impossible to solve drug problem unless kingpins are arrested as wealthy drug-lords are utilising poor people to ferry their drugs.

He also said that whatever resolution the House take could not be translated into action unless border fencing is completed and the existing drug laws are amended for allowing harsh action.

During the discussion, Keirao MLA L Ramesh-war narrated the story of a major terrorist group in Afghanistan funding poppy plantation and said that there is suspicion of some underground groups operating in the state sponsoring poppy plantations in a similar manner.

He then called upon all the MLAs to join poppy destruction and anti-drug drive immediately and translate their words into action.

He also suggested that assembly constituencies where poppy is found growing be deprived of government schemes and benefits including Local Area Development fund of the MLA concerned.

After members of both the Ruling and Opposition expressed their opinions and supported the motion, the House passed the private member resolution unanimously.

Earlier, the Leader of the House placed three papers in the House.

The papers are Medium Term Fiscal Policy Statement, Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement & Amp; Macro Economic Framework Statement and Disclosures, report of the Fourth Manipur State Finance Commission 2021-2026, Volume I & II and Explanatory Memorandum as to the Action Taken on the Recommendations made by the 4th Manipur State Finance Commission in its report submitted on July 31, 2021.The leader of the House also moved the Manipur Appropriation (No 2) Bill, 2023 (Bill No 3 of 2023) and passed both the Bill.

Clarifying to a question raised by MLA Th Lpkeswar, CM Biren said that solid waste treatment plants will be constructed in rural areas according to the requirement and feasibility.

He said that Rs 7 crore has been earmarked under 15th Finance Commission for the Autonomous District Councils (ADC) areas for the management of solid waste.

Solid waste management plants have been constructed in some of the urban and municipal areas.

The same will be constructed in the Gram Panchayat and rural areas soon, he added.

He further said that government is planning to construct rural market sheds on priority basis.

He also said that Price Monitoring Committee has been instituted in the state and it will check irregularities in price of commodities.

Regarding the land records of Kakching district, Biren informed that there are 45 revenue villages in the district and survey work of 13 villages is going on and 3 villages are under survey.

Land records will be made available at the offices of the officials concerned.

The chief minister also said that a stadium is being constructed at Senapati at a cost of Rs 7.2 crore with the objective to promote indigenous games of the state.

The government is also taking up steps to promote indigenous games like Mukna, Sagol-Kangjei, Thang-Ta, Kang, etc., Rs 1.50 crore has been sanctioned for the promotion of indigenous games and sports.

More than 100 schools of the state have introduced Thang-Ta as a curriculum, he added.

Later, the 3rd session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly was adjourned sine die.

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