8 Demands for Grants amounting to Rs 3072,75,31,000 passed
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, March 01 2023: While in the course of discussing eight Demands for Grants, Chief Minister N Biren Singh has stated that the Manipur Government maintains financial discipline and has been sending utilisation certificates of the Central Sponsored Scheme (CSS) to the Centre on time.

On the eighth day of the ongoing 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly session, the House unanimously passed eight demands for grants amounting to Rs 3072,75,31,000 .

The Demands for Grants passed by the House today include Demand no 4 :Land Revenue, Stamps & Registration and District Administration (Rs 163,76,93,000), Demand no 5: Finance Department (Rs 2557,67,16,000), Demand no 21: Textiles, Commerce & Industries (Rs 166,64,60,000), Demand no 25: Youth Affairs & Sports Department (Rs 128,02,64,000), Demand no 28: State Excise (Rs 20,56,00,000), Demand no 29: Sales Tax, Other Taxes/Duties on Commodities and Services (Rs 11,16,98,000), Demand no 35: Stationery & Printing (Rs 7,44,39,000) and Demand no 42: State Academy of Training (Rs 17,46,61,000) .

8 Demands for Grants amounting to Rs 3072,75,31,000 passed

During the discussion, N Biren who is also in charge of Finance continued that that the Government has been laying more emphasis on financial discipline given the resources available in Manipur and the expenditure to be made.

"We all know that the financial condition of Manipur is not sound," the Chief Minister highlighted.

The rate of State and Central GSTs collection has been increased by 15 and 25 per cent respectively, N Biren told the House.

To a motion moved by some members that the State didn't send the Utilisation Certificates of CCS on time, N Biren stated that the State is yet to send Utilisation Certificates of scheme amounting to Rs 1,100 crore.

The State received CCS amounting to Rs 395 crore in the Financial Year 2012-13, N Biren maintained and added that amount has been increased to Rs 4209 crore in 2021-22 .

This increase in allotment of money in CCS is a testament of submitting Utilisation Certificates on time, the Chief Minister responded.

The Chief Minister also presented a report of projects initiated and to be taken up under Externally Aided Project under the funding of different agencies.

To a policy cut motion raised by K Ranjit while discussing Demand for Grants pertaining to Land Revenue, Stamps & Registration and District Administration, N Biren said that of the 2700 vacant posts at Revenue Department nearly 50 per cent of them have been filled.

The Cabinet has also approved to recruit 700 staff, N Biren continued.

Saying that 13 SDOs and 48 SDCs were included in the recently declared results of MCCSE, the Chief Minister added that preparation is underway to recruit 70 more SDOs and 33 SDCs through MCCSE.

The Revenue Department will be able to function properly once all these officials join the office.

He said that the matter raised by the members of the House on loss of arable lands is true.

Land diversion is not allowed under MLR & LR Act while the State is yet to fully implement the Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2014, he noted.

Saying that about 2484 cases pertaining to encroachment on paddy lands and wetlands have been registered and impounded about 160 vehicles including earth movers, N Biren maintained that there, however, is no complete ban on using paddy lands.

The State allows construction of structures to accommodate who genuinely are homeless or if it will benefit the people but they have to take approval from the Revenue Department and Cabinet Committee, if required, the Chief Minister said.

He said that understanding of the people is needed to protect the limited arable lands of Manipur.

The Chief Minister further stated that the State is considering establishing a land bank with special focus on vertical expansion.

Regarding the Excise Department, N Biren maintained that the Government has been working to streamline the department and regulate Indian Made Foreign Liquor and country liquor so as to generate additional revenue.

The Chief Minister went on to state that the Government has been closely observing the arrangement of the lottery can be scandalous.

MLAs K Ranjit Singh, K Meghachandra, Th Lokeshwar Singh and Surjakumar Okram moved cut motions which were later withdrawn and passed in the House.

MLAs M Rameshwar Singh, Kh Joykisan Singh and Th Shyamkumar Singh also joined in the demand discussion and expressed their observations.

Clarifying on the policy cut motion, leader of the House N Biren Singh informed that in order to save the agricultural land, a Cabinet sub-committee will look into conversion of agricultural lands for other purposes.

He also stated that about 2484 show-cause notices were served to encroachers of paddy lands.

The Chief Minister further informed the House that under the Centrally sponsored schemes, the Government has constructed Sangai Ethnic Park at a cost of Rs 45 crore, Makhel Heritage at Rs 6 crore, 34 police outposts at a cost of Rs 80.4 crore.

.NBiren conveyed that Kangchup-Tamenglong road, Manipur Water Supply Project, Sustainable Forest Management for Water Conservation and Dam Rehabilitation have also been implemented under the Externally Aided Project.

Commerce & Industries Minister Nemcha Kipgen, while clarifying on policy cut motions, said that six industrial estates have been set up while two more industrial estates have been approved to be set up for Imphal East and Senapati districts.

Youth Affairs & Sports Minister Govindas Konthoujam, on the other hand, said that the Youth Policy will be published by the end of April 2023 .

He also said that a committee under YAS will be set up to certify the quality of artificial turf grounds including the privately owned grounds in the State.

The Government has also prepared a proposal for setting up of sports infrastructure under Khelo India for remote areas of the State, he added.

Later, the House unanimously passed Government Bills viz (i) The Manipur Properties and Open Places (Prevention of Defacement and Disfigurement) Bill, 2023 (Bill no 1 of 2023), (ii) The Kaina Temple Board Bill, 2023 (Bill no 4 of 2023), (iii) The Manipur Value Added Tax (Third Amendment) Bill, 2023 (Bill no 5 of 2023), (iv) The Manipur Town and Country Planning (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2023 (Bill no 7 of 2023) and (v) The Dhanamanjuri University (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (Bill no 6 of 2023) .