New Delhi, November 13: The three day economic editors' conference began yesterday in the capital with Finance Minister P Chidambaram inaugurating the conference.

Speaking at length on commitment of the UPA Government for upliftment of rural masses in keeping with the desire of the Prime Minister Manmohon Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Chidambaram said 30 percent of the GDP had been allocated to improvement of rural sector.

He also said the growth rate has touched 9.4 percent during 2006-07.The Finance Minister was told by the editors representing Manipur that though the foreign exchange reserve has filled every coffer, the Government employees in Manipur are not getting their pay regularly.

He was told that the old and retired employees stand in long queues for getting monthly pension before the State Bank of India.

Whatever is happening in Manipur has dimmed the glorious achievement of the Union Government.

The Finance Minister said the matter is to be tackled by the Chief Minister of the state.

Addressing the conference on the second day today the Union Minister for Agriculture, Sharad Pawar said the agriculture sector has posted new land marks.

He added the record production of 216 million tones of food grains, 22.7 million bales of cotton and 345 million tones of sugarcane had restored the confidence that "we have the potential to meet the challenges." He also said "the encouraging response to the initiatives under the National Horticulture Mission including that in the North Eastern region micro irrigation, market reforms and extension reaffirms our commitment towards a more remunerative and efficient agriculture".

Drawing the attention of the Minister the scribes from Manipur said Manipur being a border state has been continuing to provide lackadaisical route for illegal and clandestine export of fertilizers to the neighbouring country Myanmar, where the demand for fertilizer is very high.

The Minister said if there are any activities of this kind it would be looked into.

He said he would take up the matter with the concerned ministry.

The Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel stressed the need for expansion of airport in every part of the country.

He said "if it is difficult in controlling the traffic now it will be more difficult in future".

The scribes from the state said though Praful Patel was ranked best minister in the India Today gradation of Union Ministers he could not do much for improvement of infrastructure of the Tulihal airport in Imphal.

The Minister replied there had been substantive improvement of the airport in terms of availability of machines and other equipments.

He said "I agree with you the infrastructure needs to be improved".

The Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora, who also addressed the conference, said the importance of energy security cannot be over emphasized.

He said his ministry is working towards sourcing both indigenous and external sources of oil and gas.

The Minister was told that one major problem facing the state of Manipur is scarcity of cooking gas.

The supply is not in consonance with the demand.

He said frequent occurrence of land slides and other forms of hindrances have scuttled availability of cooking gas in Manipur.

He said there is enough cylinder and gas.

The supply will improve if the hindrances are done away.

Naharolgi Thoudang Editor Khoirom Loyalakpa and Manipur Mail Editor N.Sanatomba participated in the conference.

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