New Delhi, March 17 2010: The Annual Plan for Manipur for the year 2010-11 was finalized at Rs 2,600 crores at a meeting held at Yojana Bhawan today between Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister of Manipur, Shri Okram Ibobi Singh.

The outlay includes a Special Plan Assistance (SPA) of Rs 825 crores for the State's priority projects.

Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, complimented the State Government for accelerating pace of development and assured that fund constraint would not be allowed to hamper progress in development.

He advised the Chief Minister to complete all the developmental projects timely.

He said the Commission would ensure that there was no delay in the release of funds to the State.

Giving details of developmental activities in Manipur through power point presentation, the Chief Minister O Ibobi said that various developmental activities had been taken up in both hills and plains of the State despite many factors of insurgency in Manipur.

He highlighted, among others, the constructions of JN Institute of Medical Sciences, Ima Market and Capital Complex in Imphal, Mini Secretariat Complex of Imphal East and Thoubal Districts, Multipurpose auditorium of MFDC, Transit Hostel Complex in Ukhrul and Ningsingkhul Bio-Diversity Park in Jiribam.

The Chief Minister stated that for the current year, the Planning Commission approved Plan size at Rs 2000 crores including Rs.610.50 crores of SPA.

Expenditure upto the end of February 2010 was Rs 999.89 crores i.e.85 percent against the actual release of funds amounting to Rs 1162.65 crores.

Stating that the State Government had set up a committee to mobilize additional resources, Chief Minister informed the Planning Commission that the motor vehicles rate and license fees for Arms had been increased; and collections from VAT, professional Tax, Electricity dues and forest royalty would increase substantially from 2010 onwards.

He pointed out the minimum requirement of Rs 550 crores for the ongoing SPA funded projects which included Rs 140 crores for Loktak Lake Conservation Project, Rs 228.08 crores for State Medical College JNIMS, Rs 100 crores for Capital Project, Rs.40 crores for Mini Secretariats in the districts and Rs 50 crores for projects in the power, education and health sectors.

To address militancy related issues and unemployment among educated youths in Manipur, he proposed to take up Skill Development and capacity Building Programmes, assist Self Help Groups, vocational training programmes for rehabilitation of ex-militants, drug addicts and HIV positive persons and re-launch the revised Self Employment Guarantee Programme.

The Chief Minister also underlined for proving sufficient funds for District Councils of Manipur in the matters of election, infrastructure development and employment generation.

The State Government proposed minimum Plan size of Rs 2800 crores incuding Rs 800 crores SPA for Annual Plan 2010-11 for Manipur.

Manipur Chief Minister accompanied the Deputy Chairman of State Planning Board Bijoy Koijam, Works Minister K.Ranjit Singh, IFCD and YAS Minister N.Biren, TD Minister D.D.Thaisii in the meeting.

The spokesperson of SPF Government and IFCD Minister N.Biren stated the meeting of the Chief Minister with the Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission was very successful.

The State of Manipur this year got the plan size having an increase of 30 percent against the previous plan size.

The Planning Commission members were impressed on the various developmental activities taken place in Manipur.

The Planning Commission members , on seeing through the power point presentation, also satisfied the actual progress of the revival of dying multipurpose projects of Khuga, Dolaithabi and Thoubal; and assured to the Manipur team for providing pending funds under AIBP for the projects.

The spokesperson said that the Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues met the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi yesterday at 4.30 pm and appraised the various developmental activities taken place in Manipur and the requirement of sufficient funds for development of the State.

During the meeting, Sonia Gandhi instructed to her political Secretary Ahmed Patel for fulfilling the proposal of the State of Manipur.

Biren further stated that Chief Minister and his ministerial team met the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh this morning and submitted the proposal of State Government for providing sufficient fund for development of the State.

The Prime Minister opined that considerable increase of Plan size would be possible.

The Chief Minister also met the Home Minister P.Chidambaram at 4.30 pm today and appraised the improvement of law and order situation in Manipur.

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