Day: February 25, 2015

THOUBAL, February 25: Following the appeal of Chandel Naga Peoples Organization (CNPO) and other civil bodies besides the assurance of Andro MLA Shyamkumar to table the grievances of the Association in the forth coming Assembly session, the Chandel District indefinite bandh called by the All Tribal Blind Association has been temporarily suspended from today.

The bandh was relaxed and suspended till February 28 after a team of Chandel Naga Peoples Organization led by its president Ws Kanral held talk with the members of the Association at Heikakpokpi, the spot where the indefinite bandh was enforced today.

Speaking to the media persons, K. Pareng Kom, Secretary of the Association said that the bandh was relaxed for 3 days from today following appealed by the CNPO and other Social bodies. However, if the grievances and demands of the Association was not tabled in the upcoming State Assembly Session, the Association will resume the indefinite bandh immediately and will also intensify our agitation till our demands were fulfil by the government, he warned.

While appealing the State Government to consider the grievances of the Association, CNPO president, Ws. Kanral also told the media persons that the Organisation along with the people of Chandel District will fully support and join the agitation of the Association, if the state government fail to take up their grievances during the Assembly Session.

It may be mentioned that an indefinite bandh was enforced All Tribal Blind Association in protest against the indifferent attitude of the state government to provide a full fledged government school for Mission Blind school in Heikakpokpi.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/chandel-indefinite-bandh-suspended-temporarily/

R Lester Makang

UKHRUL, February 25: For the growing populace of a hill-top habitation like Ukhrul town, the shortage of water for public consumption due to scarce resources remains a chronic problem. The PHED Water Supply Department, Ukhrul Division via its pipeline service is unable to meet the water needs of the town`s ever growing population and thus only households within the town areas are connected to pipeline while a majority of those on the town`s periphery rely on local ponds or ground water.

Even so, the problem of water scarcity is not that much pronounced during wet season as the life giving natural substance are found aplenty except muddiness until the onset of bone dry season from January till March/April. But when the dry season sets in, by mid January most of the local water bodies /ponds run dry and spring waters reduced to trickle while the lone source for the town`s pipeline at the Shirui Hills gets depleted leaving the populace of the district headquarters practically high and dry.

Such is the situation that the hapless residents of Ukhrul town are presently in as most spend sleepless nights walking a long distance looking for water seepages with empty pots and buckets or scraping the bottom of community ponds in turn for a few pots of water.

“To obtain cooking water required for the day, I have to wake up as early as 3 am and head toward our local pond,” said a housewife Amila of Phungreitang while adding that though it is still dark several others are already started drawing water from the pond.

Another housewife Mary said that she normally walks some distance towards terrace paddy fields down the slopes in the evening to secure water for the next morning needs.

Yet another resident of Viewland said that his family has been drawing water from their paddy field by vehicle as the pipeline has stopped supplying water for the past saveral days.

When this IFP correspondent contacted the district water supply department, an official informed that owing to acute decrease in the level of water in the department reservoirs installed near Town Hall, the frequency of pipeline supply to households has been reduced to once a week.

“Earlier we supplied pipeline water to consumers every alternate day but since the past few weeks we had been constrained to reschedule a gap of 5/6 days in a week because our reservoirs are receiving lesser quantity of water from Shirui source.

He then added that to mitigate the situation the department has been distributing free mobile water to different localities in the town through its water tanker. “But this difficult situation may persist until the next rainfall,” he observed.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/ukhrulites-face-severe-water-shortages-as-all-reservoirs-run-dry/

IMPHAL, February 25: M/S ZV Napoleon Oil Agency, the dealer of SK Oil in Ukhrul district has drawn the attention of Union CAF & PD Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on the disparity of SK Oil allocation in Ukhrul for the last three months in the pro-rata allocation to the two SK oil dealers of the district.

Speaking to the media, ZV Kahangpam, proprietor of the ZV Napoleon Oil Agency said as a dealer in Ukhrul district, he has signed the Kerosene LDO dealership agreement with the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd on May 5, 2005. The Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution department has allocated 100 KL of SK Oil to the two dealers every month which is allocated proportionately on a Pro-Rata basis for the last many years, he added.

Unfortunately, during the months of October, November & December last year, there was a disproportionate allocation of SK Oil to the two dealers, he said, adding his agency was allocated only 12 KL while the other dealer was allocated with 88 KL. Despite that, he said, he distributed the allotted quota without any irregularities.

ZV Kahangpam said the State government has allotted all the 100 KL of SK Oil of the district to M/S V J Tangkhul, Ukhrul with the issuing of order No. 17/l/2013-CAF&PD on January 14 by the deputy Secretary of CAF &PD for the months of January, February and March this year.

He said he has complained verbally to the concerned officials regarding the issue of the illogical order, urging them to allocate the SK Oil to both the dealers of Ukhrul district on a Pro-rata basis like in the past.

Another order was issued by the Government on January 17 notifying the modification of the earlier order of January 14 by allocating 24 KL and 76 KL per month to his agency and the other agency respectively for the months of January, February and March, he said.

His agency received 24 KL of oil for January and distributed it to the sub-dealers, he said, but suddenly without giving any reason, the notification of January 17 regarding the allocation of SK Oil to both the dealers of Ukhrul district was superseded.

The earlier illogical order of January 14 was made to remain in force for the month of February and March until further order, he added.

In this matter, the High Court of Manipur has also directed to suspend the notification of February 2 that reinforced the earlier order, he said.

Lashing out at the illegal action of the government by allotting zero S.K. Oil to his agency and allotting all the 100 KL of S.K Oil for his district to a particular firm, Kahangpam further stated that V Weapon Zimik, the president of Tangkhul Nagalong and the eldest son of the proprietor of V J Tangkhul has also tried to force him to hand over his SK Oil dealership with the help of some persons.

He said recently the District Statistical Officer, Imphal West locked his Godown on February 17 without any prior notice. Even the legislators of Phungyar assembly constituency and Chingai assembly constituency have already written to the State CAF & PD minister to allocate S.K Oil on a pro-rata basis to the two dealers of Ukhrul, he informed. However, no positive action has been taken up by the said minister till date.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/ukhrul-sk-oil-dealer-cries-foul/

IMPHAL, February 25: The Ministry of Urban Development has so far sanctioned Rs 459.93 crores to ten states as the first instalment under `Swachh Bharat Mission`™ for the year 2014-15.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Urban Development and Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, Babul Supriyo in the Lok Sabha in a written reply to M Murali Mohan, Hema Malini and five other members.

Maharashtra received Rs 135 crores, Karnataka received Rs 80.01 crores, West Bengal received Rs 64.01 crores, Gujarat received Rs 40.95 crores, Andhra Pradesh received Rs 40 crores, Bihar received Rs 37.72 crores, Chattisgarh received 30.79, Madhya Pradesh received 18.81 crores, Manipur received Rs. 11.21 crores, Odisha received 1.43 crores.

The sanctions include Rs 310.10 crores for Construction of household and community toilets (Rs.310.10 cr), Awareness generation activities (Rs.48.00 cr) and Capacity building (Rs.12.00 cr).

Babul Supriyo has further informed that under Swachh Bharat Mission in urban areas, 1.04 crore household toilets are targeted to be built by 2018.

State-wide targets in respect of household toilets under the Mission : Tamil Nadu-13.95 lakhs, Uttar Pradesh -11.83 lakh, Maharashtra-8.99 lakhs, Karnataka-8.88 lakhs, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana-7.93 lakhs, West Bengal-7.88 lakhs, Madhya Pradesh-7.32 lakhs, Rajasthan-5.62 lakhs, Bihar-5.47 lakhs, Gujarat-4.06 lakhs, Odisha-4.03 lakhs,Chattisgarh-3.51 lakhs, Jharkhand-2.31 lakhs, Haryana-2.16 lakhs, Punjab-1.96 lakhs, Kerala-1.76, Assam-1.46 lakhs and NCT of Delhi-1.25 lakhs etc.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/centre-sanctioned-rs-1121-cr-to-manipur-under-swachh-bharat/

IMPHAL, February 25: The Chief Minister of Manipur, who is also holding the portfolio of finance today presented the tentative budget Estimate of 4933.10 crore for the fiscal year 2015-16.

The estimate was presented during the first day of the 10th session of the tenth Manipur Legislative Assembly which commenced from today.

The Chief Minister said that the Normal full budget could not be presented as the plan size for 2015-16 has not yet been finalised, and the estimates of non-plan transfer from the centre, which is normally based on central finance commission`™s recommendations, is also not known.

He said that 2015-16 would be the first year of the 14th Commission award period

Nevertheless, he proposed presenting the outlay, to obtain a vote on account to enable to Government discharge its responsibilities and to meet all essential expenditure during the first four months of the fiscal year 2015-16.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said that of the tentative outlay of Rs. 4933.10 crore under state plan Rs. 251.85 crore is under CSS and CPS, and Rs 5517.46 crore under Non-plan.

While clarifying on the sharp increase in the state plan expenditure since 2014-15, he said that it was due to the restructuring the existing centrally sponsored schemes into 66 centrally sponsored schemes and assistance for these included in block grant as Central Assistance to State Plan.

The Chief Minister further mentioned that the receipt part of the non-plan budget, such as share in central taxes and non-plan grants, is also tentative adding that this was likely to increase further when the 14th Commission`™s recommendation are notified.

The expenditure estimates under non-plan, particularly salary and pension estimate have been prepared keeping in view the likely requirement during the year. However, other expenditure under Non-plan will undergo change based on the commission`™s recommendation, he said.

While giving an overview of the state economy and finances, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, said that during 2014-15 the state`™s economy is projected to grow by 7.16 percent adding that the Government is expected to push the growth momentum further after the Annual plan is finalised.

He revealed that the revenue surplus, fiscal deficit and primary deficit is stable before hailing that the fiscal year 2-13-14 closed in surplus despite severe resource constraints.

`our dept stock as percentage of GSDP is also well within the prescribed ceiling of 57 percent and we have been able to maintain contrast to the uncertain fiscal environment`, asserted Okram Ibobi Singh.

The Government had strongly pleaded to the commission for greater devolution of funds, he continued hinting the a critical year ahead in the wake of the commencement of the first year of the 14h Finance commission.

Meanwhile, the revised estimate for the year 2014-15 at Rs.11244.64 was also placed by the Chief Minister during the floor of the house showing an increased of Rs 1556.81 crore.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/rs-4933-crore-tentative-budget-estimate-presented/

IMPHAL, February 25: A one-day state level sensitisation meeting of National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Program (NIDDCP), Manipur was organised by the National Rural Health Mission (IDD cell) at the MACS Conference Hall, R&D Wing, Lamphelpat.

Speaking at the sensitisation meeting, Additional Director of Health, Dr Manikanta said it is a very complex problem but can be cured. The said syndrome needs to be eradicated by organising such programmes at the community level to educate people about its preventive measures so that it will be eradicated from the grass roots.

He continued that today`™s sensitization meeting will bring positive outcome in-order to control the Iodine deficiency disorder.

Giving an overview of NIDDCP, Dr L Ashananda Singh, the regional director, Health & Family Welfare, GOI said Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) like goiter, cretinism and mental retardation are easily prevented by using iodised salt in cooking to prevent the tragic consequences of iodine deficiency in all family members.

A goiter is when the thyroid gland in the neck swells. It is painless but can be discomforting. It can be prevented by using iodized salt, he said.

He further said that cretinism is the most serious form of mental retardation which causes the child`™s brain and body to be seriously and permanently stunted. The child will not be able to walk, talk or think normally, and added that the use of iodized salt cannot cure cretinism or mental retardation but can only prevent it.

Pregnant women who do not get enough iodine are more likely to have miscarriages or give birth to mentally or physically impaired babies. Iodine deficient mothers will give birth to iodine deficient babies, he said.

Lack of iodine can cause lifelong brain damages to babies even if they look normal, as they grow, the brain damage will show up as poor school performances and the inability to work well, he added.

He stated that IDD babies may be physically less coordinated than healthy babies; in severe cases, the babies might be born with cretinism and their weight will be very less.

The regional director gave a message to use iodised salt to prevent related problems as iodised salt is safe for everyone.

He said that every year, thousands of child/adult dies or become crippled due to iodine deficiency. Iodine is a micro nutrient which is essential for normal growth, development and functioning of both brain and body. The average daily requirement for an adult is 150 micrograms of salt.

Dr L Ashananda Singh also highlighted that the objective of NIDDCP is to assess the magnitude of the IDD by surveying, to supply iodated salt in place of common salt, to assess extent of IDD and the impact of iodated salt after every five years by survey, to monitor iodated salt in urinary and to publicize through health education and wide publicity.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/oneday-sensitization-programme-on-iodine-deficiency-held/

IMPHAL, February 25: `Manipur police has been able to keep the law and order situation under control and maintain public order despite working in an extremely sensitive security environment`, said Dr Krishan Kant Paul, Governor of Manipur, addressing the house on the first day of the 10th session of the tenth Manipur Legislative Assembly.

Further, the Governor conveyed his sincere greetings and best wishes to the people of Manipur for a peaceful, prosperous and productive year.

He further said that the Government has been striving for all round development and delivery of Good Governance for the welfare of the people. Equitable and inclusive development with secular ideals have been the guiding values of the Government and conveyed that the Government has pursued developmental works for the people residing the hill and valleys areas in a sustainable way.

Elaborating on various achievement of the Government during the recent years, he said that the state`™s finance is stabilizing slowly after a period of acute resource constraints, before attributed it to the prudent management of available resources and persistence effort to raise additional resource by the Government.

In the context of law and order situation, the Governor said that Manipur police has been able to keep the law and order situation under control and maintain public order despite working in an extremely sensitive security environment.

He said that the Government has been able to achieve commendable results on the counter-insurgency front confronting various problems, which are both convoluted and serious in nature, compounded by shortage of man-power, infrastructural and other logistic constraints.

Manipur police, with the help of the army/CPMF/AR, has been able to restrain and curb the activities of the UGs to a large extent, he said adding that the activities of the UGs in the valley area have been checked to a great extent due to the intensive counter-insurgency operations.

Similarly, in the hill districts, the area domination by Security Forces and Police compelled the UG elements, especially the valley based outfits, to seek refuge in the neighbouring countries like Mynmar, Bangladesh etc, apart from taking shelter in other State of the country, it said.

There has been qualitative improvement in the security environment of the State, especially in the valley area due to the well-directed counter-insurgency measures which ensured effective tackling of the various threats, he continued.

Dr KK Paul, divulged that on realising that effective counter insurgency operations alone cannot solve the problem of insurgency and militancy in the State, the Government, on many occasions had invited various UG groups operating in the state to come forward for negotiation.

He spelled out that during the year 2014 initiatives of the Government of India and Government of Manipur were able to bring many valley base UG groups to the mainstream.

Presenting the latest achievement in this regards, the Dr KK Paul, said that on December 15, 2014, 58 cadres and leaders of three different UG groups including former chairman of PREPAK, A Nabachandra and former Finance secretary, PREPAK Chinglen Meitei, 37 cadres of KCP (KK Nganba group) including Chairman Chongtham Manglemjao along with 37 assorted weapons and ammunition and 19 cadres of KCP Nongdrekhomba along with assorted weapons and ammunition and four hand grenades laid down arms to join the mainstream in a home coming ceremony.

On the other hand, the suspension of operation with the KNO (Kuki National Organisation) and UPF (United Peoples Front) since August 2008 was extended upto August 21, 2014. With the KNLF (Kuki National Liberation Front) and PRA (Pakan Revolutionary Army) which signed a tripartite agreement on March 23, 2013, under the SoO a total of 2,098 SoO cadres are accommodated at 13 thirteen Designated camps spread over three hill districts of Churachandpur, Chandel and Senapati, he said.

The Governor of Manipur also said that a total of 98 cadres of different UG groups surrendered at individual levels to the state and the central forces during the year 2014 under the Surrender Scheme of MHA adding that they are in the process of rehabilitation with assistance of the MHA, the Army and the Assam Rifles.

Moreover, he divulged that suggestions have been made to the Union Government for consideration of absorbing the former militants in the CPOs by relaxing the recruitment norms.

Reflecting on the finance sections, Dr KK Paul, said that the state in the last few years witnessed a great change in development of several infrastructures. In the current year, the state has a tentative plan size of Rs. 3200 crore which includes Rs 450 crore under SPA and Rs 800 crore under SCA.

A total amount of Rs 259.31 crores has been provided in the year, 2014-15 under tribal affairs and hills for implementation of various developmental schemes, for assisting 3497 numbers of ST and 200 numbers of SC families under various income generation programmes.

The Government is gearing up to implement the National Food Security Act, 2013 under which a total of 24.84 lakhs beneficiaries i.e 87 percent of the total population as per 2011 census in Manipur will be covered by Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), he said.

In education sector, the Government continues to give thrust to school education by providing access to affordable quality school education to all children of school going age group of the state, he said adding that in order to achieve this broad objective, several initiatives during the current financial year, in addition and in continuation of the initiatives of preceding years were taken up.

Observing the widening gap between demand and availability in the power sector, the Governor said that to do away with the problems the Government has taken various initiative in every level.

He said that the Government has taken part in the North east transmission company (NETC) with 6 percent share in the construction of 400 KVD/C Palllatana-Silchar-Bongaigaon trunk transmission line for evacuation of power from the (a) 2×363.3 MW Palatana Gas Power Project (PGPP) and (b) 3×250 MW Bongaigaon Thermal Power Project (BTPP).

The Power Grid Corporation of India has taken up construction of 400 KV Double Circuit line from Silchar to Imphal initially charged at 132 KV system voltage and it is expected to be commissioned in March 2015.

Further, Manipur has participated in the ambitious scheme of `North Eastern Regional Power System Improvement Project` for strengthening intra-state transmission and distribution network 33 KV level with 50:50 funding from the World Bank and Government of India.

He elaborated that the project is being implemented under three Tranches and Trance-I Loan Appraisal with the World Bank is under process and added that the Tranche-I cost in respect of Manipur is estimated at Rs 404.17 crores at October 2013 price level.

He continued that to tap hydro potential of the state and a hydro power policy, for new hydro projects including Irang Hydro Project (60MW) in Tamenglong, Tuivai Hydro Project (51 MW) in Churachandpur, Pabram Hydro Project (190 MW) in Tamenglong, Kongnem Chaka Hydro Project (67 MW) in Senapati districts have been allotted to NEEPCO Limited for survey and investigation and formulation of the DPRs.

Dr KK Paul, has also maintained that the unbundling of the erstwhile electricity department has made an impact by increasing efficiency through corporate culture and competiveness and slowly reducing the Aggregate Transmission and Commercial (AT&C) losses in the state.

After the conclusion of the Governor`™s address an obituary reference motion on the demise of former secretary of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, Thokchom Chourajit, was also held.

Further, the Chief Minister also presented the Twelfth Report of the Business Advisory Committee, 2015, a budget estimates of the Government of Manipur for the year 2015-16, vote on account to enable the Government discharge its responsibilities and to meet all essential expenditure during the first four month of the fiscal year 2015-16 and demand for Excess Grants for the years 2010-11 and 2-11-12.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/state-police-able-to-keep-law-and-order-situation-under-control-says-governor/