Imphal, May 15: There should be more than one reason for the people of Manipur, who have given their mandate to Congress nominee in the recently concluded 14th Lok Sabha election for the Inner seat, to be happy over coming back of Congress party to power at the Centre with lifting of the restriction imposed on financial transaction of the State Government with effect from May 17.Call it a coincidence, but the State Government's order for lifting of the ban imposed on encashment of cheques and bills coming close on the heel of Congress voted to power after almost a gap of eight-power-drought-years has made the mood of the people of the perennially cash-crunched State upbeat.

In addition to the ban lift, an official source informed that the Centre has given its nod to the demand of the State Government for releasing the State's opening deficit of Rs Rs 593 crores.

As a result of which State Government would be able to tide over its present overdraft amount of around Rs 400 crores.

State Government today issued an order in suppression of all the previous orders regarding restriction/ban imposed on encashment of cheques/ bills etc, thereby giving clearance to certain categories of payments including the much awaited monthly salaries and pensions of all its employees and retirement benefits upto to the month of April, 2004.According to an order issued today in this regard by Under Secretary (FR), Government of Manipur S Chinglensana Singh, the categories of payments for which clearance have been given with effect from May 17 are salaries and pensions upto the month of April, 2004 including retirement benefits, ration money as admissible under Rules, medi- cal advances and reimbursements, ex-gratia and relief payments GPF within the monthly limit upto the month of April, 2004; honorarium for the ICDS staff upto the month of April, 2004 where funds have been authorized by Finance Department (Budget Section), all bills pertaining to Raj Bhavan, Assembly Secretariat, High Court and MPSC, grant-in-aid bills pertaining to salaries of grant-in-aid bodies upto the month of April, 2004; bills pertaining to electricity charges and water charges booked under detailed head for �Electric and Water charges� without requiring LOC and bills relating to payment of interest and repayment of loans availed by the State Government.

Moreover, bringing happy smile on the faces of the students and the worried casual employees alike, clearances have also been given for encashment of bills pertaining to scholarship/stipend as per Rules, and wages for casual/contract employees engaged as per rules and leave travel concession as per rules.

The official order, however, made it clear that all encashment permission issued earlier and encashment allowed to LoC/CDA issued earlier if not encashed already would be stand cancelled/withdrawn unless permission is re-issued hereafter.