Disaster management high on Govt agenda
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 26 2011:
The State Cabinet has taken a decision to the effect of retaining 5 percent of the total 537 staff in the Excise Department and deploy the remaining in the proposed State Disaster Response Force, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh today informed the Assembly.
He was responding to the call attention motion raised jointly by MLAs Dr Ng Bijoy, O Joy and RK Anand of the MPP who drew the attention of the Chief Minister, who is also in-charge of the Home, to the proposed setting up of State Disaster Response Force by utilising staff from the Excise Department.
Responding to the call attention motion, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh observed that the decision to set up State Disaster Response Force through utilisation of staff from Excise Dept has been taken as a part of the National Policy in due consideration of the fact that Manipur is located within one of the five seismic zones of the world.
As of now the Relief and Disaster Management Dept has just 25 staff and if it has to function like a separate Department, at least around 500 staff would be required.
However, as there is no additional income and resources, the Cabinet after a detailed discussion decided to retain 5 percent of the total existing staff in Excise Department and deploy the rest in the proposed State Disaster Response Force, the Chief Minister explained.
The Chief Minister further observed that lifting of prohibition imposed on liquor in Manipur may able to generate an annual income of around Rs 300 crores.
But as the Govt could not just think about the income to be generated, the Excise Dept is not to be abolished altogether.
Manipur is a still dry State and prohibition would remain.
The revenue collection area in Excise being limited and its main duty being only issuing of license, the remaining few staff would be able to manage the administration of the Dept.
With Police Dept already given the power to tighten its grip over drug abuse and sale of liquor, proper co-ordination between the two Depts would be more effective.
Raising the call attention motion, MLA Dr Ng Bijoy alleged that Excise Dept has not been able to function property.
Drug abuse has not been able to control.
So, it would be befitting to provide adequate vehicles and equipments for proper functioning of the Dept and it would not be useful to deploy a large number of staff who are due to be retired in a responsible force like Disaster Response Force.