CM greets, spells out initiatives of Govt

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 31: As the world steps into 2025, Chief Minister N Biren has conveyed best wishes to all the people of the State.
Speaking to media persons at the recreation ground of the Chief Minister’s bungalow this mor- ning, Chief Minister N Biren wished all the people a prosperous, healthy and peaceful life.
“The Government shares solidarity with all the displaced people who have been enduring all kinds of woes at relief camps as well as with the families of those killed in the violence”, the Chief Minister said.
He said that the Government will work at its best level in the coming year to resettle the displaced people.
Giving a brief account of the works done by the Government since its establishment, the Chief Minister stated that his Government has initiated tripartite talk and a peace process with the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) and the Pambei-led United National Liberation Front (UNLF).
In the face of security measures taken up by security forces, there were around 408 incidents of exchange of fire from May 2023 till October 2023.
From November 2023 to April 2024, there were around 345 incidents of encounter.
From May this year till date, the number of encounters declined considerably to around 112, he said.
Informing that additional security forces have been deployed on National Highways, the Chief Minister stated that 17 additional companies of security forces have been deployed on NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur highway).
Likewise, 18 additional companies have been deployed on NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam highway).
Out of around 6000 arms looted from Government armouries, 3012 have been recovered so far. 2551 explosives have also been recovered.
In connection with the violence, 625 people were arrested and 12247 FIRs were registered. Moreover, 7549 people of 2058 families have been resettled at their original homes, Biren said.
Out of 3000 units of prefabricated houses approved by the Government of India, 2660 units have been constructed. Out of the completed units, 2520 have been occupied. Construction of 340 units is underway, he said.
As announced by the Government for construction of permanent houses of three categories, 931 houses are being constructed and these include 333 houses at their original plots, he said.
For construction of permanent houses, Rs 27 crore has been released. For the grant of Rs 1000 to each displaced person, Rs 30 crore has been released. So far, each displaced person has been given Rs 1000 five times, Biren said.
He added that Rs 280 crore has been released for running relief camps.
Under the Chief Minister’s Support Scheme, the Government has assisted 416 IDPs in finding employment. At the same time, 432 people have found employment with the help of the Startup Scheme, he said.
After completing training on hospitality, 49 people have secured jobs outside the State. Products manufactured by IDPs are being purchased by Handloom and Industries Departments  from relief camps after the Government opened a corpus fund, the Chief Minister stated.
The Government has initiated due process to give special commando training to around 1000 trained personnel of 10th and 11th IRB. In addition to bullet-proof vehicles, 10 mine-protected vehicles, LMGs and sniper rifles have also been purchased in view of the prevailing situation, Biren said.
Extra incentives are being given to security personnel stationed at frontlines and vulnerable areas, he said.
For the first phase of College Fagathansi mission, Rs 60 crore has been allocated. With a view to raise the standard of higher education in the State, engineering and medical coaching classes sponsored by the Government have commenced, he said.
For the first time, goods were transported by railways till Khongsang in July last year. The railway project has been making rapid progress, Biren said.
He said that transport offices have been opened at Jiribam, Kakching, Noney, Pherzawl and Kamjong.
A water body is being developed successfully at Lamphelpat at the cost of Rs 658 crore and the project is set for completion by February 2025. In the meantime, phase II of Imphal Sewerage Project is being implemented, the Chief Minister continued.
Construction of a unity mall which would have separate stalls for 34/35 tribes has begun at Keikol at the cost of Rs 149 crore.
Biren also announced that a new building of IT Park, Mantripukhri would be constructed apart from procuring new equipment. Manipur Technical University’s infrastructure would be developed at the cost of Rs 54 crore. An amount of Rs 70 crore has been earmarked for development of DM University, he said.
Whereas the Civil Secretariat is targeted for completion by February 2025, 11 football fields of international standard would be developed at the cost of around Rs 8 crore.
An amount of Rs 62 crore has been sanctioned for construction of a seven-storeyed residential housing complex at Langol. Ebudhou Marjing ropeway is targeted for completion by February 2025.
Construction of Tongjei Maril Road which was damaged by flood is nearing completion, Biren said.
The Centre has agreed to purchase paddy produced in Manipur, he said.
Construction of a new police headquarters has been completed just opposite to the new Civil Secretariat complex. Construction of a new bhavan of around 110 rooms has been completed at Dwarka. Kolkata Bhavan has also been completed.
The Government has also been working to complete construction of a cultural centre at Gurgaon within four/five months, Biren said.
Construction of a new Manipur Bhavan has started at Rajbari, Assam. Meanwhile, the State Government has taken over Langthabal Palace, he said.  
Construction of 14 new Ima Markets has already started and they will be inaugurated soon one after another. Four model schools have been inaugurated and Leishang Hiden is being developed at the cost of Rs 9.60 crore, Biren said.
He informed that the Sarita Boxing Academy is being developed at the cost of around Rs 5 crore.
Alliance Air will start operating on Imphal-Kolkata, Imphal-Guwahati and Imphal-Dimapur routes twice a week from January  and the air fares will not exceed Rs 5000. In case the air fares exceed Rs 5000, the additional amount will be borne by the Government, Biren said.
He stated that the Government has reached an agreement with Air India and Indigo to give cabin crew training to 500 youth of Manipur. Necessary fund for the training programme will be paid by the Ministry of Tourism and priority will be given to IDPs.
Loans have been given to 426 IDPs under the CM Entrepreneurship Support Scheme. Apart from IDPs, other youth may also avail the benefits of the scheme. Seven entrepreneurs who have successfully tapped the Government’s Startup scheme are now giving employment to 432 people, he said.
Biren said that 23 different medicines including cancer medicines will be made available at district hospitals free of cost.
A new initiative of linking Aadhaars of newborns with the Aadhaars of their mothers would be launched  in three districts from January 15.
An amount of Rs 104 crore has been sanctioned for installing super speciality infrastructure at Ukhrul, Chandel, Tamenglong, Senapati and Jiribam.
Teachers Achievement Award will be given to 50 Primary teachers, 30 Graduate teachers and 25 Lecturers, and the recipients       will be entitled to double annual increment, Biren said.
He said that high mast lights will be installed at 40 new places. Two solar power plants will be constructed at Kakching and Elangkhangpokpi. Moreover, a floating solar plant of 5 MW would be installed at Thoubal Project.
Roads of Imphal city and surrounding areas would be constructed with concrete at the cost of Rs 3300 crore. Moreover, Rs 176 crore has been earmarked for construction of concrete roads at hill district headquarters.
A drug de-addiction centre would be constructed at Ukhrul at the cost of Rs 5 crore, he said.
Saying that the dispute over land compensation has been resolved, the Chief Minister stated that Imphal-Jiribam highway would be developed as a standard highway. He also appealed to all concerned not to hinder development projects taken up by the Government.  
Construction of Irang Bridge will be completed soon and three incomplete bridges of Imphal-Kangchup road will be completed by March/April 2025.
Once the construction of Imphal-Kangchup road is completed, one can reach Guwahati from Imphal in a much shorter time, he said.
A sum of Rs 314 crore would be sanctioned under CRIF for this project. The Government is also planning to seek Rs 110 crore from NABARD under SASCI, he added.
“We have been suffering together for too long and there were several instances when we were furious with each other. There were strong arguments and bitterness among the people, CSOs and the Government but everyone wanted good for the State and an end to the protracted crisis but as we leave behind 2024, we need to forget all the bitterness.
“As we step into 2025, all the communities, organisations, Ministers and MLAs need to embrace the principle of forgive and forget and work collectively to make Manipur a peaceful and progressive State once again”, the Chief Minister stated.