Governor highlights Govt achievements
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, March 24 2022: Governor La Ganesan addre-ssed the first session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly today and high-lighted activities and achie- vements of the Government in the past year.

The Governor started his speech by welcoming and congratulating the newly elected Members of the House and added "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 on Covid-19 pandemic and healthcare and said the pandemic continued to present challenges during last year.

Nevertheless, the proactive efforts of the Government to accelerate vaccination programme against COVID-19 went a long way to facilitate opening up of economy and in picking up the pace of developmental works, he said.

He 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.

24 PSA Oxygen Generation Plants were commissioned in the past one year alone covering all 16 districts.

Governor La Ganesan

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

A 3rd LMO Plant of 20 KL is also ready to be commissioned at Covid Hospital, Kiyamgei.

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 said.

"District hospitals at Tamenglong and Ukhrul have now been upgraded to 100 bedded hospitals.

Trauma Care Centre at Bishnupur was inaugurated.

Foundation stone was laid for a 150 bedded Cancer Hospital at JNIMS" .

Law & Order and Justice Delivery
The Governor said, "During 2021, in counter-insurgency measures, security forces arrested 234 extremists and neutralized 15 extremists.

14 persons were detained under NSA and 20 UG cadres surrendered.

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

Under the Government's "War on Drugs", during 2021, massive seizures were made including 87 Kilograms of Heroin, 1,320 Kilograms of Brown Sugar, 505 Kilograms and 80 litres of Opium, nearly 10 lakh tablets and over 64 Kg of WY (Amphetamine).

42 cases were registered and 20 disposed under ND &PS Act.

3,424 acres of illicit poppy cultivation were destroyed, he added.

Finance and Planning
He said 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.

Water supply project of Tamukhong in Imphal East is nearing completion.

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

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

Tribal Affairs, Minorities and SC&OBC Welfare
The Governor continued that the Government provided assistance to 1,708 ST families under various family-oriented programme and to 100 tribal women organisations for carrying out various activities.

1,196 ST families were provided GCI sheet roofing for their dwelling house.

Altogether, 51,488 ST students were given 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 200 cylinder per day were installed in six district hospitals in hill districts.

6 Advance Life Support Ambulances and 12 Basic Life Support Ambulances were procured for use in hill districts under the 15th FC grants " .

The Government is committed to the welfare of Minorities, OBC and SC Communities in the State, 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.

The Governor also highlighted achievements under the Prime Minister's Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) .

Food Security
Under the National Food Security Act, automation of all Fair Price Shops in the State and 100 % Aadhaar seeding of all ration cards in the State was achieved.

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

Education
He said the Government continued to make efforts to improve the overall education sector in the State and highlighted several schemes.

"In the wake of restrictions imposed by COVID-19 pandemic, web-based digital platform named Moodle Learning Management System was introduced in 45 Government and Government Aided Colleges of Manipur for teaching and learning interventions" .

He also highlighted Chief Minister's College Maheiroi's E-Support Scheme, University and Higher Education Digital Support Scheme, School Fagathansi Mission, etc.

Power Sector
He also said that 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 inter-State 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 400/132 KV sub-station at Thoubal and eight 33/11 KV sub-stations were operationlised.

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

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

Efforts are being be made to ensure long term survival of Manipur Brow Antlered Deer (Sangai) and protection of Amur falcon, La Ganesan said.

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

The Governor also spoke on Water Resources and Management and said providing assured irrigation is critical for accelerating growth in agriculture sector with about 2.3 lakh hectares of net cultivable area.

Water Supply
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 said.

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 were completed during the year.

The Governor also said that 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, completion of the remaining work of Civil Secretariat Complex at Mantripukhri and construction of VVIP State Guest House - "Shanglen" are being taken up.

Urban Planning and Development
Under the PM-SVANidhi Scheme, 8,461 street vendors have been provided working capital loan to resume their livelihoods during the pandemic, he said.

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.

Rural Development
9,716 houses were completed against 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.

He also said that under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana- I and II, construction of road length of 430 Kms have been completed during the year.

Social Welfare
He highlighted "Chief Minister's Widow Pension Scheme, National Disability Pension Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana.

He added that 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.

He also highlighted the Chief Ministergi Shotharabasingi Tengbang, ADIP scheme, Rastriya Vayoshree Yojna (RVY), etc.

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, he said and added that construction of industrial estate at Ukhrul has been completed.

Further, 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 being set up at Yaithibi Khunou.

Tourism
To boost the tourism sector, various tourism infrastructure were completed during the year.

These include Cheiraoching Eco Tourism Project, Integrated Tourist Circuit of Imphal- Tamei, Integrated Tourist 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.

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

The park will stand as testimony of Manipur's status of being a 'Powerhouse of Sports' .

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

Construction of football fields and RCC galleries has been started in eight blocks.

Arts & Culture
To nurture, propagate and preserve the cultural heritage of Manipur, various works were taken up during the year.

Memorial Complex of Exile Heroes of Anglo-Manipuri War, 1891 at BT Park was inaugurated.

The Governor further highlighted the achievement under "Chief Ministergi Artiste Singgi Tengbang" .