Revenue loss due to violence pegged at Rs 800 Cr
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 04 2024: Chief Minister N Biren who is also in charge of Finance portfolio has stated that the State incurred a loss of around Rs 800 crore revenue on account of the protracted violence.

Congress MLA Okram Surjakumar today raised a call attention motion in the State Assembly on the ever deteriorating financial health of the State.

Replying to the motion, N Biren stated that the exact figure of the overall financial loss incurred by the State on account of the protracted violence can be determined only next year.

As of now, it has been ascertained that the State has incurred a loss of around Rs 800 crore.

Despite facing a serious crisis, the Government has been paying salaries to employees without any interruption during the past 10 months.

Besides the Government has been ensuring that all essential commodities are available to the people.

There is no spike in the prices of diesel and petrol, he said.

In the midst of the current crisis, the Central Govet helped the State Government with a substantial amount.

Out of Rs 400.42 crore assured by the Centre, Rs 203.25 crore has been released in the first phase.

In addition, the State Government has written to the Prime Minister and the Union Finance Minister to extend an aid of another Rs 200 crore, Biren said.

The State's GST collection dropped to just around Rs 100 crore in May last year but now it has improved to Rs 120/130 crore.

This indicates the return of normalcy to some extent, he claimed.

There is no reduction in Government expenditure and it is carrying out several development works, the Chief Minister stated.

With the Government engaging in several development works, the expenditure has been rising and the GST collection has also been improving.

The State's financial condition would not exacerbate to the level feared by the public, Biren assured.

In the midst of the crisis, the Government of India increased the State's tax devolution to Rs 600 crore, he informed the House.

In line with the announcement made by the Government earlier to pay Rs one lakh each to those families whose houses have been burnt down, Rs 25,000 each has been released through Deputy Commissioners.

In total, Rs 15 crore has been released, Biren said.

On imposition of road tax on Imphal-Ukhrul road in the name of fighting the aggression, the Chief Minister appealed to all concerned to shed the mindset of fighting the aggression by collecting road tax from travellers/commuters.

As the situation is quite emotive, the Government does not want to send in law enforcement agencies to crack down on the road tax collectors, he said.

In addition to 20 bullet-proof vehicles, 10 large vehicles equipped with mine detectors have been procured to protect life and properties of citizens, he said.

Questioning the meaning of collecting money on roads, Biren said that the Government has been working to bring peace through mutual understanding as there are many communities in the State.

If the appeal goes unheeded, necessary action must be initiated as per rule, the Chief Minister asserted.

Raising the call attention motion, MLA Surjakumar said that the State is now facing an economic crisis with the State's financial condition debilitating on all aspects due to the protracted violent crisis.

An expert committee must be asked to study the impacts of the violent crisis on the State's economy and their report must be apprised to the Government of India, Surjakumar said.

Saying that many people whose houses had been burnt down have not received the financial aid of Rs one lakh assured by the Government, he appealed to the Chief Minister to look into the matter.

Earlier, illegal taxes were collected on National Highways at two/three points.

Now illegal taxes are being collected at 12/13 points.

Unlawful elements have been collecting Rs 27,000 to Rs 45,000 in a day on National Highways.

Thus they are collecting around Rs 60 lakh in a year.

Such collection of illegal taxes must be checked immediately, he said.

He also appealed to the Government to see that air fares are not hiked at the fancy of airline companies by taking undue advantage of the Manipur crisis.

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