CM cites Myanmar unrest for delay in AEP
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 05 2022: Several projects and programmes which should be taken up under the Act East Policy (AEP) have been delayed due to the political unrest prevailing in neighbouring Myanmar, asserted Chief Minister N Biren.

The Chief Minister made this assertion in response to certain points raised by former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi in the course of discussing the Manipur Appropriation Bill 2022 ip the State Assembly today.

"I'm not authorised to speak on projects and programmes taken up under AEP.

Yet the Central Government has been taking up several projects and programmes under the policy and the State Government is fully prepared to extend all possible cooperation and assistance", Biren said.

He said that India and Myanmar have been working to resolve the boundary dispute in Manipur sector.

At the same time, the Government has been working to start construction of border fence at Behiang and Molcham sides.

The State Government has been making all efforts to complete the construction of Manipur Civil Secretariat and inaugurate it either by the last week of the current month or the first week of September, Biren said.

He went on to claim that poppy cultivation has come down remarkably after almost all the communities of the State pledged support to the Government's War on Drugs which was launched in 2018-19.In the meantime, the Government has arranged alternative sources of livelihood for poppy planters through committees formed at different departments like Forest, Horticulture & Soil Conservation, Agriculture etc, he said.

The Government has been working to overcome the challenges of implementing DBT in blocks where there are no internet or banking facilities.

Although there was some delay on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, retirement benefits and pensions of Government employees would be released by October this year, the Chief Minister assured.

Opposition leader O Ibobi hailed the Biren Government for the 100 days action plan as well as for coming out with vision document 2030 and vision document 2047 .

It is a long term policy of the incumbent Government and these documents would be very interesting to experts and scholars, Ibobi said.

He said that his Government which ruled the State for 15 years could not give much thought to such long term policies because there were too frequent protracted bandhs and blockades.

He then urged the incumbent Government to work untiringly in order to translate their vision documents into action.

Pointing out that the Government's vision document 2047 says Manipur was merged into the Indian Union in 1947, Ibobi also expressed keen desire to correct this blunder.

He also underscored the need for proper implementation of NFSA and promotion of cooking gas in the hill areas in order to reduce jhum cultivation and dependence on firewood and thus save forests.

Replying to an observation made by K Meghachandra, Biren stated that his Government would never reconcile with corruption.

It was with this conviction that the Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Cell and Lok Ayukta were set up, he said.

Work orders ^mounting to around Rs 600 crore which were issued by PWD were cancelled as there were too many lapses and anomalies.

Nonetheless, liabilities would be paid for those contract works which have been executed genuinely and their work orders would be included when fresh work orders are issued, Biren said in response to Th Lokeshwar.

The liabilities would be released in phase manner even if they cannot be released at one go, Biren added.

Replying to Kh Joykisan, he said that appointment of some Meitei Mayek teachers has already begun and the Government would consider about appointment of more.

The Government has plans to promote the game of Kang and one need not see whether any fund has been incorporated in the budget or not for there is a corpus fund.

The Government has a similar plan for Thang-Ta too, he added.

The Government has a plan to provide immunosuppressant drugs to patients who have undergone kidney transplantation and CMHT or PMJAY card holders may avail this facility, the Chief Minister said.

A coordination committee of engineering departments has been constituted.

Unmarried daughters and widowed daughters of Government employees who retired after January 1, 2006 may enjoy pension benefits, Biren continued.

Replying to K Ranjit, the Chief Minister assured that the office of Kakching Khunou Municipal Council would be certainly constructed.

The Chief Minister further assured that financial assistance would be provided to all those families of Pangaltabi, Chairel and Wangoo whose houses were ravaged by thunderstorms on April 14 and 15 this year.

Financial assistance would be provided once the necessary fund is released by the Centre, he said.

Later, the House passed the Manipur Appropriation Bill 2022 .

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