Killings of non-locals a dampener to tourism: CM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 27 2022: Chief Minister N Biren Singh who also holds the Home portfolio informed the House that at least 20 non-Manipuris were killed in the State in between 2017 and 25 July, 2022 and investigation is underway to ascertain the motive of the killers.

The Chief Minister, in response to a query raised by Opposition MLA Okram Surjakumar, continued that three non Manipuris were killed in between 2017 and 2019, three in 2020, eight in 2021 and another six till July 25, 2022 .

To another query raised by the Opposition MLA, N Biren stated that this threat to non Manipuris may discourage investors from other States to invest in Manipur and also hamper the promotion of the State's tourism sector.

He continued that people from different countries and States want to visit Manipur as the State is blessed with rich natural beauty but this killing of non Manipuris is a dampener.

Continuing that most of these killings took place during the time of elections and such it is likely that the extreme actions were taken to impede the conduct of elections, N Biren said that the Government has been looking into the issue to ascertain the motive of the killers.

The Chief Minister said that police have arrested assailants who killed non Manipuris in the period (2017 to 2022).Informing that 40 non Manipuris were also killed in between 2011 and 2016, N Biren stated that the Government has taken up certain measures to protect the non locals who are in Manipur and avoid further casualties.

Since the implementation of Inner Line Permit System (ILPS), the Government has started providing security to non Manipuris who execute development projects in the State, N Biren told the House.

Further stating that the Government had advised all non Manipuris who go from place to place hawking goods to shun their activities for the time being in view of the law and order situation here, N Biren stated that more measures have been taken up to protect the non Manipuris who reside in the State.

To a query raised by another Opposition MLA Thokchom Lokeshwor Singh, the Chief Minister stated that the Government has started identifying strategic locations where there are no Fire Station to set up the same.

Saying that the State Government has sent a proposal worth Rs 93 crore to the Centre and is awaiting clearance to establish more Fire Stations in the State, N Biren informed that the State has 32 Fire Stations of which 27 are functional.

The State has allocated Rs 10 crore in the Budget to resume operation of the remaining 12 Fire Stations, he added.

Responding to Singngat AC MLA Chinlunthang, Forest Minister Th Biswajit stated that the State has 37 Reserved Forests and 23 Protected Forests.

To another query raised by Thangmeiband AC MLA Kh Joykisan, Biswajit stated that the MSPCL and MSPDCL spent Rs 139.42 crore in 2021-22 in giving salary to the staff and other expenditure.

Maintaining that the State spent Rs 506.34 crore in purchasing power and collected Rs 397.04 crore from the consumers as revenue, Biswajit stated that the Government is yet to collect Rs 74.36 crore from Government departments and another Rs 86.24 crore from private individuals.

Saying that the Government has allocated over Rs 100 crore to the Budget to clear the pending bill, the Minister added that the Government has also started collecting from the private individuals who have installed prepaid meters without clearing their electricity dues.

The Government is planning to increase the number of households with pre-paid facilities to five lakhs by the end of December 2022, he added.

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