House passes four demands

Imphal, February 19, 2018(DIPR): The Manipur Legislative Assembly today unanimously passed four Demands for Grants amounting to Rs. 290,54,64,000The four demands include Demand No. 34- (Rehabilitation) Rs. 4,24,25,000,  Demand No. 36-(Minor Irrigation) Rs. 152,68,76,000, Demand No. 43-(Horticulture and Soil Conservation) Rs 93,14,85,000 and Demand No. 45-(Tourism) Rs. 40,46,78,000.

During the Demands for Grants discussion, Leader of the House, Chief Minister Shri N. Biren Singh, who also holds Tourism portfolio, informed the House that committed efforts are being put in by the new Government to globally promote the State as a tourist destination.

Stating that Loktak, Sangai, Polo, floating National Park of Keibul Lamjao and Shirui Lily are major tourists’ attractions, the Chief Minister observed that the State needs to identify priority areas for tourism infrastructure development. Tender process for the City View Project at Langol Hill connecting Marjing Hill at Heingnang by ropeway is currently underway. Enhancement of tourism infrastructure at Shirui Hill in Ukhrul district initiated earlier will be given finishing touch by the Government with the sanctioning of necessary funds. The famous Kangkhui Cave in the same district will be revamped at an estimated cost of Rs. 7.5 crore, he added.

Shri N. Biren further said that a project to connect Thanga with Chaoba Ching by ropeway is also being planned by the Government. A golf course will be developed near picturesque Loktak Lake, and necessary land has already been earmarked for the said project, he added.

The Chief Minister said that the State needs to project the image of a peaceful, calm and beautiful place to attract tourists’, each and every citizen of the State must understand their responsibility to achieve the goal. He also appealed to the media fraternity to tone down their presentations while reporting violent incidents which may send out a negative image to the world.

Regarding Minor Irrigation Department, the Leader of the House said that the Government is focusing to complete ongoing projects instead of taking up new projects. Maintaining that there were many faulty projects under the Department, Shri N. Biren requested all the Members of the House to help the Government in identifying projects which are genuinely needed by the public. Bills for such projects will be cleared by the Government at the earliest, he added.

Regarding Rehabilitation, Shri N. Biren said that the Government will initiate necessary measures to rehabilitate youths affected by drug abuse.=

Taking part at the Demands for Grants discussion, Minister for Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department, Shri Th. Shyamkumar said that the Government has allocated Rs. 6 crore for the construction of cold storages at different parts of the State. He further said that the State received Rs. 24 crore from the Centre for the implementation of Central Government sponsored schemes for the fiscal year 2017-18. He informed the House that the State could get Rs. 10 crore only against the allocated amount of Rs. 36 crore in the financial year 2016-17.

Proposal for setting up of a Soil Testing Lab under Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojana had been sent to the Centre, adding that green house materials and seeds will be provided only to genuine and deserving farmers from this financial year.

He also said that as the Government had launched a mass destruction campaign against poppy plantation under the supervision of the Chief Minister. The Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department will arrange alternative means of farming for poppy cultivators. The Minister further said that the Government will also consider revival of tissue-culture method and Magfruit industry.

During the Demands for Grants discussion, MLA Shri K Ranjit, MLA Md. Abdul Nasir, MLA Shri Th. Lokeshwar and MLA Dr. Chaltonlien Amo gave their observations. No policy cut motion was raised from the Opposition Bench against the four demands today.

Later, the House also passed the Indian Forest (Manipur Amendment) Bill, 2018.

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