Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren told the State Assembly on Saturday that the state police force has undergone significant changes.
The equipment and style of functioning have improved.
The House unanimously passed seven demands for grants amounting to Rs 42,585,349,00. The demands for grants are (i) Demand No. 7 : Police (ii) Demand No. 8 : PWD (iii) Demand No. 24: Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (iv) Demand No. 31: Fire Protection and Control (v) Demand No. 32: Jails (vi) Demand No. 33: Home Guards and (vii) Demand No. 49: Economics and Statistics.
During the discussion on demands for grants, K. Ranjit Singh, Th. Lokeshwar Singh, and Surjakumar Okram of Congress moved cut motions.
Biren Singh informed that the morale of the Manipur police has greatly improved during the past five years. The relationship between the police and the public has also significantly improved. Highway patrolling has been undertaken, and border police outposts have been opened at several key locations.
Most of the police personnel have started to take up regular morning physical exercises. He also stated that all necessary equipment had been provided.
Regarding border pillars and border fencing, Biren clarified in the House that, with the help of satellite mapping, the vast majority of border disputes have been settled.
Except for the construction work for border wall fencing for a stretch of about 350 metres near Kwatha village, the rest has all been settled, he said.
The Leader of the House further informed members that small fire tenders have been procured for use in congested lanes and localities as part of the modernization efforts under Fire Protection and Control. Foam and CO2 fire extinguishers have also been procured. A Rs 93-crore project proposal has been submitted as part of fire protection and control modernization.
Regarding the transfer and posting of police personnel, Biren stated that matters concerning transfers and posting can be amicably settled with the concerted efforts of all members of the House.
He also suggested minimising public pressures for a smooth implementation of transfers and posting matters.
He stated that the Manipur Police Training College will be upgraded after receiving approval from the Home Ministry, which may take some time.
Regarding the War on Drugs campaign, the Leader of the House maintained that specialised teams have been constituted for the effective implementation of the campaign, which covers poppy plantations and the trafficking of illegal drugs. Several drug manufacturing units have been busted in the State. The increase in unaccounted villages and illegal immigrants in the state is a major cause of the mass cultivation of poppies in the state. Two investors involved in poppy cultivation could be arrested. Two drones, one for identifying poppy plantations and another for spraying herbicides, have been procured.
Biren Singh continued that various alternative livelihood options for poppy cultivators have also been arranged, adding that alternative options should not be taken as a matter of right.
He also stated that the government will not compromise on anything on the issue of the War on Drugs campaign.
Work Minister Govindas Konthoujam informed that the government has inked agreements with different funding agencies like the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, JIKA, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank for the construction of new roads and other projects in the state. The construction of Imphal-Kangchup Road is 78% complete and is targeted for completion by June 2023. Construction of the Imphal Ring Road is planned to start by March 2023, with funding from the Asian Development Bank.
Rigid pavement works on Imphal city roads will be started, which will later be shifted to rural roads with funding from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
Minister Govindas also clarified in the House that the estimated sanction for the works programme for the years 2022–23 has already been provided.
Regarding the engagement of local contractors, he said that the government has informed the concerned authority that it will award work to local contractors on a priority basis and that their response is still pending.
He also informed the house that the $5 lakh deposit for special class contractors in the state has been deposited as revenue in the state treasury.
Work orders for the renovation of MLAs’ official quarters will be issued soon, he said.
Later, the Leader of the House introduced three bills, i.e. (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) and (iii) The Manipur Value Added Tax (Third Amendment ) Bill, 2023 (Bill No. 5 of 2023).
Ministers Th. Basanta Kumar Singh and Y. Khemchand also introduced “The Dhanamanjuri University (Amendment) Bill, 2023” (Bill No. 6 of 2023) and “The Manipur Town and Country Planning (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2023” (Bill No. 7 of 2023) respectively.
