Budget session kick starts, Jagat strikes a positive pose
Law and order situation turning around : Governor
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 08 2011: Governor Gurbachan Jagat has stated that the law and order situation in Manipur is showing signs of a turn-around.

Presenting the customary address at the inaugural session of the State Assembly, Governor Gurbachan Jagat said, "in fact, we are seeing signs of improvement which go beyond statistical data" .

The number of civilians killed and injured has come down from 92 and 117 in 2007 to 20 and 53 respectively in 2010.The number of police and security personnel killed has also come down from 41 to 5 in the corresponding period.

On the other hand, the number of militants arrested has risen from 1296 to 1397 and detentions under the NSA have risen from 145 to 230 .

With increasing realisation among the general public about the activities of militant organisations, people's participation in protesting against militant activites has also risen.

Waakat Meephams or sit-in-protests were promptly organised against UG groups that kidnapped, killed or indulged in extortions, the Governor stated.

Meanwhile, the Government has increased police manpower significantly during the last two years.

Governor with the CM and newly elected Speaker (inset) Hemochandra sworn in as Speaker

Through concerted recruitments, the strength of the State Police Force has increased from 15,414 in January 2008 to 24,618 by January 2011 .

This additional manpower may be deployed in the hill districts and remote rural areas of the valley districts for securing these hitherto under-policed areas.

During the past six months, the Government has succeeded in moving 18 tribal militant groups under the umbrella organisations of UPF and KNO into ten designated camps.

Till date, 1493 cadres are lodged in these camps and 709 arms deposited.

Moreover, KCP-MC (Lallumba faction) has also agreed to lay down arms and abjure violence, further said the Governor Another significant achievement of the Government is the revival of the six Autonomous Hill District Councils which had remained non-functional for more than two decades.

The Government has already devolved greater powers to these Tribal Councils and has empowered them to provide local self government to meet tribal peoples' aspirations.

Apart from devolving powers in respect of subjects of various departments, administrative control over DRDAs has been handed over to these Councils to enable them take full charge of rural development in hill areas.

Similarly, administrative control of DRDAs has been handed over to the Zilla Parishads in the valley districts, the Governor stated.

Informing that the Government obtained a record annual plan outlay of Rs 2600 crores during 2010-11 and this has been increased by 22 per cent for the current fiscal year by obtaining Rs 3200 crores, Governor Gurbachan stated that these plan funds would be utilized for completing ongoing projects and taking up important development projects.

A fiscal consolidation pathway has been worked out on the basis of the roadmap recommended by the 13th Finance Commission which envisaged reduction of fiscal deficit of the State to 3 per cent of the GSDP from 2013-14 onwards and to maintain revenue surplus.

Accordingly, the Manipur Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Rules have been amended and fiscal targets have been incorporated in the Rules.

The State Government has also taken several steps to increase its revenue receipts to finance its plan and non-plan expenditures.

Rates of State's own tax revenues such as Value Added Tax, Goods and Passenger Tax and State Excise, have been revised and proposal for revision of power tariff, forest royalties, motor vehicle tax etc are under process, Governor Gurbachan informed the House.

Noting that the Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime has been lifted by the Ministry of Home Affairs following persistent efforts by the State, the Governor exuded that this would provide a fillip to the tourism potential of the State and generate additional employment opportunities for youth.

Talking about measures taken up for improvement in the power situation, the Governor said that the State Government has obtained an allocation of 43 MW from the Pallatana Project and 56 MW from the Bongaigaon Project.

Further, a 400 KV Double Circuit Line charged at 132 KV from Silchar to Imphal is being constructed by the Power Grid Corporation of India under the Associated Transmission System scheme.

In addition to the 1500 MW Tipaimukh Hydro Electric Multipurpose Project which is already under construction, the State Government has tied up with the NHPC for taking up the 66 MW Loktak Down Stream Hydro Electric Power Project.

Informing that pre-paid energy metering system is being introduced in the State, the Governor claimed that the recent state-wide mass drive for realization of due electricity charges and detection of power theft yielded revenue of Rs 10.50 crores.

The State Government has also been promoting Information Technology (IT) and IT enabled services like Business and Knowledge process outsourcing, Call Centres etc in Manipur.

Already a small STPI centre is operational at Mantripukhri.

The State IT Department is setting up an IT Park adjacent to the STPI centre.

To attract IT Houses, the Government has acquired an area of 27 acres adjacent to the IT Park.