Projects to operationalise AEP on in full swing: CM
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, February 19 2020: On the fourth day of the ongoing 10th Session of the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister N Biren Singh informed the House that to ensure full operationalization of Act East Policy, various developmental activities and projects have been taken up by both the State and Central Governments since 2014.Replying to a question raised during Question Hour by MLA Surjakumar Okram concerning the operationali-zation of the ambitious Act East Policy, the Chief Minister explained that under the policy, Integrated Check Post (ICP) Moreh was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 4 last year, and it is now fully operational.

He said that the India Government and the Government of Myanmar have agreed to open 9 Border Haats along the border within a distance of 1640 kms, to facilitate free exchange of locally available commodities and services.

Projects to operationalise AEP on in full swing: CM

2 Border Haats are included in the list from Manipur.

In addition 2 Border Haats are proposed to be opened at Ukhrul and Kamjong districts, he added.

Regarding infrastructure and road development the Chief Minister said that construction works of 69 bridges, including the approach road from Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa road section on EPC mode started on November 29, 2017 and scheduled for completion by November 23 this year, were stalled due to Court cases.

He further said that agreement on land border crossing with Myanmar was signed on August 8, 2018 to mark the symbolic commencement of movement of people across the two countries.

Major business summits and workshops have been conducted both in Myanmar and India.

For commencement of bus service within the two countries, an MoU was signed on February 14 this year, he informed.

Regarding the commencement of regular Imphal-Mandalay flight service, the Chief Minister said that the Ministry of Civil Aviation has included Imphal-Mandalay Sector under the International UDAN Scheme.

Process of selection of operator for the Sector through bidding is likely to be finalised by March 2020, he added.

The Chief Minister informed the House that 10 cases have been registered in different districts of the State against protesters for resorting to road blockade during the year 2019-2020 (till February 16 this year).

Replying to a question raised by MLA Kh Joykisan Singh, Biren said that road blockade is not permissible as a protest and hence, legal action can be taken up against the protesters under the law.

The Chief Minister, who is also in-charge of Minor Irrigation Department, informed the House that work programme of the Department under State Plan have been published since 2017.Replying to another question raised by MLA Joykisan, Biren explained that construction work of Imphal View Point at Cheiraoching, Thangmeiband, is in full swing and will be completed soon.

Norms and guidelines have been strictly followed while executing the work and clearance from Environment Ministry has also been obtained, Biren added.

Joykisan argued that in the document provided by the Assembly Secretariat, there is no sanction order copy.

He claimed that there were no agreement copies in the document as well and only the front pages of the agreement were present.

The MLA claimed that even the sanction order is not related to the question he raised and instead it is regarding afforestation.

Pointing out that the State Government seems to have provided wrong information to the Environment Ministry while taking approval for the project, Joykisan asked if the work, undertaken by Manipur Police Housing Corporation, is being conducted as per the guidelines of the Central Vigilance Commission, the Environment Ministry and whether the e-tenders were conducted in a transparent manner.

Replying to his queries, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that the undertaking of any project in a reserved forest area is a difficult task but there were no lapses in the said project by the Government.

He also sought the attention of the Speaker, expressing desire for certain important matters related to the Government to be kept confidential in the House.

Even if documents are sought for tabling in the House, there are some which need to be kept confidential.

Moreover, going through documents more than 5-6 years old also poses its own difficulties, the CM argued.

On the other hand, claiming that demanding sanction order is his right as an MLA, Joykisan questioned why the Manipur Police Housing Complex wants to keep its agreements/sanction orders secret.

He also claimed that the works were not being carried out as per the Environment Ministry guidelines and also demanded to know why the documents/orders he sought are not being provided.

To this, the Chief Minister told the MLA to approach the authorities concerned if he believes the Government went against any guidelines.

He also told the MLA to file RTI application if he still wishes to procure the documents which are confidential and cannot be tabled in the House.

Replying to a query raised by MLA Md Abdul Nasir regarding completion of ongoing Mini Dam construction before the onset of rainy season, the CM assured that the construction work of Lilong Atoukhong Mini Dam is in progress and an amount of Rs 70,76,289 have been released for the first phase.

On the other hand, responding to questions and supplementary raised by MLA AK Mirabai, Agriculture Minister V Hangkhanlian informed the House that due to the drought like situation, the agricultural yield in the State has considerably decreased during the current fiscal year.

The Minister said that an estimated area of 99,153 hectares could not be cultivated due to the drought.

He continued that this year, an estimated area of 95,847 hectares of land were cultivated yielding 2,57,154 MT which is about only 50 per cent of the normal yield.

He further said that due to late/scarce rainfall, drought like situation prevailed in the State and in view of the situation, the State Cabinet decided to declare the State as being drought hit on August 31 last year.

Accordingly, a report was submitted to the Relief and Disaster Management Department and as per the report, an Inter Ministerial Central Team visited the State during October 11 and 17 for spot verification.

Proposal of the State for relief assistance is under consideration in the Ministry.

For the drought affected areas, an amount of Rs 6,02,93,000 were sanctioned for procurement of different Rabi seeds from State fund as per contingency crop plan proposed by the Department, he added.

Replying to a question raised by MLA K Ranjit Singh, the Minister said that 100 water pumps have been procured and distributed to the beneficiaries for use in the drought affected areas.

He informed that an MoU was signed between the pump beneficiaries and District Agriculture Officers concerned signifying that the pump allotted to them will be returned to the officers concerned.

All District Agriculture Officers have been directed to collect the pumps from the beneficiaries, he added.

Social Welfare Minister Nemcha Kipgen, on the other hand, informed the House that construction of 779 Anganwadi Centres were completed during the last two years.

She was responding to a question by MLA Awangbow Newmai regarding the construction of Anganwadi Centres in the State.

Nemcha explained that 4 Anganwadi Centres were constructed at Tamei Assembly Constituency during the last 2 years.

Clarifying on a question raised by MLA K Ranjit Singh, Fisheries Minister N Kayisii informed the House that steps have been taken up to conserve the indigenous varieties of fish in the State.

The Minister conveyed that in view of the possible extinction of some of the indigenous varieties of fishes from the State, 10 Murrel Hatcheries have been opened for conservation and production of indigenous fishes under National Fishery Development Board, Hyderabad.

Also with the implementation of BIO FLOC, a new technology of rearing fish, there will be sufficient production of indigenous fishes in the State, he concluded.