2/3 communities involved in vehicle theft, drug peddling: Biren
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 03 2023: While asserting that people belonging to two/three communities are generally involved in vehicle lifting and drug related businesses, chief minister N Biren has pointed out the need for the communities concerned to take up stringent actions against those involved in the act at the community level.

When the motion for passing The Manipur Appropriation (Number 2) Bill was moved in the assembly on Friday, Congress MLAs including opposition leader O Ibobi, K Ranjit, K Meghachandra, Th Lokeshwar and O Surajkumar made various observations While responding to these observations, chief minister Biren said that a number of vehicle lifting cases has been reported in the state and the police have also recovered many vehicles reported as stolen.

However, despite these actions, vehicle lifting continues.

While informing the house that the act of vehicle lifting and drug business are being carried out by two or three communities settling in the state, the chief minister suggested that community leaders take firm measures and suitable actions against those indulging in anti-social activities.

"The Meetei community in the valley has started banishing individuals involved in vehicle theft and drug peddling.

Therefore, there is the need for people and leaders of other communities to ensure that a handful of individuals do not tarnish image of the community concerned.

Moreover, punishment handed to individuals involved in such crimes as per the laws of the land is insignificant and as such the rate of conviction should be accelerated," he added.

The chief minister further informed that an amount of Rs 990 crore has been earmarked as state share for all the developmental works in the state under shared funding between the centre and the state at the ratio of 90:10.There are also cent percent central funding projects to be taken up in the state.

Setting the record straight on the general notion that major portion of the state budget is utilised in paying salary and pension of employees, the chief minister informed that of the total state budget, 40 percent is used up in meeting salary and pension expenditures with the remaining percentage utilised for development works.

With a case pending in the court regarding use of single use plastic bags coupled with shortage of staff, Manipur Pollution Control Board has not been able to enforce the prohibition in full steam, the chief minister said while adding that whatever is possible will be done by the government in this regard.

Informing that provision free rice under PMGKAY scheme is not the prerogative of CAF & PD but executed by transport contractors by procuring the rice from FCI warehouse, the chief minister said that the government would intervene if the rice is not distributed to the eligible beneficiaries as specified.

While stating that period ical hiking of price of LPG is in sync with the global trend, Biren, however, assured to consult with the centre to see if there are possibilities of curtailing the price.

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