The 3rd session of the 12th Manipur assembly, which commenced on February 2 but having only 12 days sitting, was adjourned sine-die on Friday with the passing of a private member resolution on ‘War on drugs campaign.’
The house also unanimously passed a resolution that all the sixty elected members be warriors of the war on drugs campaign after the state chief minister, N Biren Singh, moved a private members resolution aimed at completely eradicating the drugs menace that is crippling the state for the past many years.
Most of the members of the House, irrespective of political parties including the senior leader and former chief minister, O Ibobi Singh, have expressed their support and shared suggestions prior to the passing of the resolution.
Leader of the House also laid three papers including (i) Medium term fiscal policy statement, fiscal policy strategy statement and amp, macro economic framework statement and disclosures; (ii) Report of the fourth Manipur state finance commission 2021-2026, Volume I & II; and (iii) Explanatory memorandum as to the action taken on the recommendations made by the 4th Manipur state finance commission in its report submitted on July 31, 2021. The leader of the House also moved the Manipur Appropriation (No. 2) Bill, 2023 (Bill No. 3 of 2023) and passed.
On allocation of the state budget during the discussion on appropriation bill, Biren Singh clarified that in the budgetary allocation, 44% of the budget was used for the payment of salaries to the employees and 56% in development works.
On demand for reducing prices of LPG in the state, he said the recent hike in the price of LPG was due to the increase of price in the global market as the country imports 60 per cent of its LPG requirement.
Clarifying to demands for setting up of solid waste treatment plants in rural Manipur, he said that necessary steps are on in Thoubal, Kakching and Bishnupur districts. He informed that a sum of INR 7 crore has been earmarked under 15 finance commission for autonomous district councils in the hill districts. He added that the same would be constructed in the gram panchayat and rural areas soon.
Stating that the government is also planning to construct rural market sheds on priority basis, he said that price monitoring committee has been instituted in the state and strict monitoring is going on to check irregularities in the price of the commodities.
Singh further informed the House that a stadium is being constructed in Senapati at a cost of INR 7.2 crore with the objective to promote indigenous games of the state. He also stated that the government is taking up steps to promote indigenous games like Mukna, Sagol-Kangjei, Thang-Ta, Kang etc. He informed that an amount of INR 1.50 crore has been sanctioned for the promotion of indigenous games and sports.
Earlier replying to a question raised by MLA K Ranjit Singh, Singh said that an expert committee has been constituted to look into liquor legalisation. He informed that the expert committee would submit a report by the end of this month.
Replying to another question by MLA Paolienlal Haokip, Singh said that 18,500.6 acres of poppy plantations had been destroyed since the inception of ‘War on drugs’ campaign till date. He further stated that the government would extend all possible assistance to poppy planters on humanitarian ground even if there is no definite plan to provide livelihood means for them. Imphal, March 3 (EMN)