IT News
Imphal, Aug. 16:
As in other parts of the country, the 75th Independence Day was celebrated in the State as well. The State level celebration was held with Chief Minister N. Biren Singh hoisting the National tricolour amid playing of National Anthem at the 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles ground.
The Chief Minister reviewed the guard of honour and took salute from 12 march-past contingents commanded by Ms. Anupam, SP (CID/Technical). Contingents of BSF, CRPF, Civil Police, India Reserve Battalion, Home Guards, VDF personnel and NCC took part in the march-past.
Speaking on the ccasion, N. Biren Singh said that Manipur has achieved remarkable progress and development in the past four years and a half. Stating that the law and order situation had seen significant improvement during this time, the Chief Minister said that 1039 UG cadres belonging to different outfits had laid down arms till date – the most recent being 20 cadres of Thadou Peoples’ Liberation Army and valley based groups who surrendered in March 2021.
Government’s pro-active efforts to make Manipur a blockade and bandh-free State to ensure its all-round development had resulted in drastic decrease of bandhs and blockades in the last few years, he said and added that Manipur was awarded the ‘Most Improved Small State’ in Overall and Law and Order categories in the annual ‘State of the States’ survey carried out by India Today.
The Chief Minister further stated that Nongpok Sekmai police station was awarded as the best police station in the country for the year 2020, and Sub-Inspector M. Priyadarshini Devi of Kakching police station was awarded the Union Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation, 2021. To check illegal infiltration and smuggling activities, Behiang police was set up in 2019, he added.
Regarding the War on Drugs campaign, the Chief Minister said that Narcotics Cells had been established in all the districts. Maintaining that one should never politicalize the issues related to drug menace, N. Biren Singh said, in the past four years and a half, the State’s law enforcement agencies seized more than 1,000 kg of opium and derivatives, more than 100 kg of heroine and many other contraband substances. Many clandestine brown sugar improvised laboratories had also been busted, he added.
He further informed that one Fast Track Court for trial of ND&PS cases was established in 2018. The Court had disposed 314 cases with 51 convictions. Further, the Special ND&PS Court had also disposed 962 cases, with 87 convictions since January 1, 2017. Manipur Police had also arrested Kyaw Kyaw Naing (Myanmar national) – an international drug dealer, he added.
N. Biren Singh maintained that poor farmers affected due to destruction of poppy crops had been assisted by the Government towards taking up farming of other economically viable horticultural crops on a sustainable basis. The farmers of Peh (Paoyi) village of Ukhrul district was awarded a cash reward of Rs. 10 lakh for voluntarily destroying poppy plantations. About 130 farmers of the village had been enrolled under Phase-III of MOVCDNER as beneficiaries. During 2020-21, 120 kg of quality seeds of F1-Hybrid Cabbage, 4000 kg of Quinoa and 20 MT of Ginger would be distributed to farmers for initiating alternative means of livelihood for target area of 460 ha (1136 acres) at 5 (five) poppy affected districts, he informed.
Stating that improvement in law and order allows the State to reap the benefits of peace and Manipur continues to excel in several areas, he said that in the second edition of Indian Innovation Index, 2020 prepared by NITI Aayog, Manipur was ranked 3rd position under North-Eastern and Hill States category and 1st position in the NE States category.
N. Biren Singh said that Chief Ministergi Hakshelgi Tengbang was recognized and awarded as the best designed health insurance scheme by the Indian Express Group while Chandel district topped the Delta Ranking of 112 districts for June 2021 under Aspirational District Programme of NITI Aayog. MSPDCL had been awarded the Best Performance Improvement Award & Overall Winner: Innovation with Impact Award for North Eastern States among all the distribution companies in the country in the 7th Innovation with Impact Awards for Discoms 2019. MSPDCL also received ‘Overall Innovation with Impact Award (North Eastern States)’ in 14th India Energy Summit 2021, he said.
The Chief Minister said that the Central Government had rendered invaluable assistance to Manipur during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the second wave, medical oxygen capacity had been ramped up in the State. Two LMO Plants of 10 KL and 20 KL and two PSA oxygen plants had been installed at Porompat. PSA oxygen plants had been installed at Churachandpur, Thoubal, Chandel, Ukhrul and Senapati. Similar plants would be installed at other remaining districts as well, he said.
Earlier, there were only 25 D-type and 117 B-type cylinders, currently there are 5438 D-type and 335 B-type cylinders available in the State. There are 2624 oxygen concentrators now where there was not even one earlier, the Chief Minister said.
In order to tackle COVID-19, manpower capacity in the Health Department had been ramped up to meet the huge challenge. Altogether, 317 doctors, 596 staff nurses, 530 MTS and 50 drivers had been engaged on contract or daily wages. Altogether, 41 ambulances are currently deployed with 29 being procured recently. 20 Ambulances had been provided to hill districts, N. Biren Singh said.
He further added that 14 COVID Treatment Centres are functioning in district hospitals and larger CHCs besides 28 COVID Care Centres had been set up in all the districts. 142 Community Home Isolation Centres (CHIC) had been set up in all the Assembly Segments with support of MLAs. Altogether 4,198 treatment beds are available today for COVID treatment, with 280 ICU beds.
The State had managed to scale up testing capacity and performed a total of 11.41 lakh tests with 1.06 lakh positive cases, he said and added that Genome sequencing for COVID virus has started in IBSD, Imphal. The Chief Minister further stated that 14.25 lakh persons had received vaccination in the State with 2.6 lakh already receiving 2nd dose.
Regarding drinking water, he said that the Phase-I of Water Supply Scheme in Tamenglong under NLCPR with an estimated cost of Rs. 5968 lakh for providing safe drinking water for the whole areas of Tamenglong had been completed while the Phase-II is targeted for completion by November 2021, the Chief Minister said.
Stating that Water Supply Distribution Network for Churachandpur for promoting tourism had been completed under NESIDS with an estimated cost of Rs. 24 crores to benefit 73000 heads, he said that the project would extend water supply coverage to 15 habitations within Churachandpur Hqs. Augmentation of Senapati District headquarters Water Supply Scheme for promoting tourism is taken up under NESIDS with an estimated cost of over Rs. 42 crores. The work is targeted for completion by October 2021, he informed.
Water Supply at Chingkheiching is projected to provide 45 MLD additional water supplies to Imphal city. The project is completed and raw water availability is awaited from Thoubal Dam for trial run. Construction of 375 surface minor irrigation schemes and 550 groundwater irrigation schemes for a total amount of Rs. 296 crore for creating irrigation potential of nearly 11,700 Ha being taken up. These projects will be completed by November 2021, the Chief Minister said.
Stating that allocation of Urea Fertilizer for the Kharif season is 20,000 MT i.e. 4.4 lakh bags of 45 kg each. Out of this, 2.8 lakh bags had been already transported from Jiribam Rail Head to Imphal. 2.2 lakh bags had been allocated to cover both valley and hill districts so far for distribution to farmers at subsidized rate. He assured the farmers that all steps had been taken up to ensure that urea is made available to them. Deputy Commissioners had been personally involved to ensure that urea is distributed to all farmers uniformly and with a priority to areas facing scarcity.
Regarding road construction works, he said that the Imphal-Kangchup-Tamenglong road is being constructed with funding from ADB, at a cost of about Rs. 1440 crore. Expansion work of Imphal-Jiribam road is in full swing. Six packages of Churachandpur-Tuivai road were awarded in 2020 and all project packages had achieved their 1st milestone on schedule time. DPR is under preparation for Imphal-Moirang road. Imphal-Moreh Package-2 had been inaugurated. Construction of Elevated Corridor along Koirengei to Malom and Canchipur of Imphal City for a total length of 25 km is also being taken up under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The Ministry had allocated Rs. 5000 crores for the project in the Annual Plan 2021-22. Preparation of DPR of the project is under progress, and an inception report had been submitted and the work is targeted for commencement by February, 2022, he added.
As the powerhouse of sports, the Chief Minister said, Manipur has so far produced 19 Olympians while five athletes represented the country in Tokyo Olympics. To promote sports and encourage Olympians hailing from Manipur, the State Cabinet had also approved creation of three posts of Joint Directors for Gold Medallists, five posts of Deputy Directors for silver/bronze medallists and 10 ten posts of Assistant Director for other participants in the Youth Affairs and Sports Department. The Government had also identified 10 acres of Government land for setting up Olympians’ Park at Tairenpokpi village, Imphal West, he added.
Stating that the Government continues to ensure full functioning of the Universities, he said that regular Vice-Chancellors of Dhanamanjuri University, Manipur University of Culture and Manipur University had been appointed. 60 schools had been covered under the School Fagathansi Mission. Enrolment of students had increased by 25% so far in these 60 schools, he said.
During the Independence Day celebration, the Chief Minister also handed over medals, commendation certificates and trophies to different armed personnel and Government employees. Inspector B. Lunthang Vaiphei and Hav. Md. Samadur Rahaman were decorated with the Police Medal for Gallantry while the Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Police Training, 2018-19 was presented to Jem. K. Priyojit Singh, Rfn. Th. Digbijoy Singh, Rfn. W. Surjit Singh and Rfn. Kh. Tomba Singh.
Chief Minister’s Trophy for Community Service was awarded to Pherzawl SP Lakshay Sharma, Inspector N. Ingocha Singh and Constable N. Romila Devi. Chief Minister’s Trophy for Anti-Drug Campaign was presented to Imphal West SP Dr. S. Ibomcha, Subedar Y. Shaktisen Singh and Head Constable Ibotombi Singh.
Chief Minister’s Award for Good Governance (Individual Category) was awarded to ADGP L. Kailun, Secretary to CM N. Geoffrey and Joint Secretary (Finance) Neilenthang Telien, while Chief Minister’s Award for Good Governance (Team Category) was handed over to Health Department, Home Department, Horticulture Department, Jiribam District, Senapati District, e-Office team and TA and Hills Department.
