Newmai News Network
Imphal | January 23
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has urged the Central Government to fence the undisputed stretch of Indo-Myanmar border to control smuggling, drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms smuggling, illegal immigration, etc.
He was speaking at the 69th Plenary Meeting of North Eastern Council (NEC) in Shillong, according to a DIPR report. Chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the meeting was attended by the Governors and Chief Ministers of all the North East States and DoNER Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and other Union Ministers, the DIPR report added.
In his speech, Singh urged the Centre to approve the Ordinance on Psychotropic Substances Amendment, which had already been referred to the President by the Governor of Manipur, the report said. He also requested the Union Home Minister to introduce a special scheme for poppy growers for providing alternative livelihoods.
According to the DIPR report, Singh also sought assistance from the Centre in developing the INA Memorial Complex, Moirang as a world-class memorial site on the land being acquired for expansion of the present complex. He also pressed for early completion of Jiribam-Tupul railway project and develop its main station at Imphal.
He submitted that the amount allocated under 10% Gross Budgetary Support for NEC is not sufficient. He reiterated his earlier suggestion to allow access to unutilized resources from 10% Gross Budgetary Support of Central Ministries.
Informing the Union Home Minister that infrastructure development for promotion of tourism per se is not included in the NESIDS Guidelines, Singh observed that NEC may consider covering the same for comprehensive development of the tourism sector. He also requested to extend HADP to the remaining eight hill districts of the State. The Chief Minister also requested for intervention for facilitating necessary World Bank clearance funding for Integrated Sewerage System, Loktak Lake Eco-Tourism and Rejuvenation of Lamphelpat Water Body.
He urged the Union Ministry of Agriculture for re-survey in Jiribam and Tengnoupal districts for Oil Palm Mission Manipur. He sought approval for the proposal for expanding the potential areas under Horticulture with a total project cost of Rs. 227 submitted to DoNER Ministry for development of Value Chain Systems and Integrated Farming in Shifting Cultivation Areas. He requested for approval of Rs 126 crores submitted for Five Year Plan for Development of Bamboo in Manipur.
According to the DIPR report, Singh later visited the ancient royal property at Rajbari and had a firsthand assessment of the various issues surrounding the controversy around it. He visited the Ibudhou Pakhangba Shanglen located on the property. He was moved by the dilapidated condition of the old buildings and on seeing the bricks inscribed with Meitei script. He appealed to the tenants to come to a settlement so that the land could be reverted to the State Government for its upkeep and development, the report added.
