Month: July 2012

Troops of 10 Assam Rifles under the aegis of Red Shield Division apprehended two over ground workers of ZUF and NSCN (K) from the Noney Bazar area in Tamenglong on 10 Jul 2012 while they were carrying out extortion from vehicles plying on NH-37. During the search, they were found taking money from TATA SUMO vehicles carrying passengers from Imphal to Jiribam. The apprehendees have been identified as Robinson s/o Karam Singh of village Lukhambi – II district Tamenglong and Dinchui Rongmei, s/o hubi Rongmei of village Thiulon, district Tamenglong. A number of mobiles sets with SIM cards, extortion money, cash receipts etc were seized from their possession. The apprehendees were handed over to Imphal West Police Station.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/two-held-10/

One day Awareness cum Blood donation Camp was held at The Training Hall of Nehru Yuva Kendra, Kangpokpi, Senapati, Manipur today. The program was jointly organized by Nehru Yuva Kendra, Kangpokpi, 43 Assam Rifles, Blood Bank & Transfusion, JNIMS, MACS, and Red Shield Division.
Brigadier S.K. Sharma, Commander, 57 Mountain Brigade and Colonel Swarn Singh, Commandant, 43 Assam Rifles were the Chief Guest and the Guest of Honour respectively.
In his speech, Brig. Sharma said, “In a state like Manipur, where many communities lived, all of them should come together and participate in such programmes, only then peace will prevail”.
In his speech by Dr. Surjit of JNIMS said, “human blood is precious and the only source is human itself, so he requested every healthy person above 18 years should donate blood and save lives.
Among those who donated blood were, Brig. S.K. Sharma, Col. S. Singh, Jacky Ruivah, NYK Zonal Director, Jawans of AR, general public, and NYK volunteers.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/blood-donation-camp-held/

Mail News Service
Imphal, July 10 : Altogether 39 vehicles were damaged due to attacks by strikers on the highways last year, Transport Minister, Kh Ratan informed the House today. He said compensations were given by the government to the truck owners except ten vehicles which will be given soon.
Home Minister, Gaikhangam said Manipur government is in touch with Nagaland government to end the blockade in Nagaland. It was reported that four persons from Manipur had allegedly hijacked a truck from Nagaland and to protest it a blockade has been called in Nagaland.
Gaikhangam said two persons were rounded up and the vehicle recovered. State officials were in touch with Nagaland counterparts to that the blockade can be lifted he assured the House. L Ibomcha said frequent blockades on national highways make people face immense hardship. Due to the blockade about 600 Imphal bound vehicles are stranded on the highway and large numbers of passengers including women and children are stranded on the highway.
Immediately after news of blockade reached Imphal the business communities immediately hiked prices of goods in the market.
Francis Ngajokpa , Minister Rural development laid a gazette copy of Manipur Panchayati Raj Sixth Amendment Ordinance 2012 in the House. Nine demands for grants for nine departments were also passed. The demands were Rs 843 cr for Police, Rs 742 cr for Education, Rs 17 cr for Consumer Affairs, Rs 2.46 cr for Vigilance, Rs 7.8 cr for fire protection, Rs 11.91 cr for Jails, Rs 10.66 cr for Home guards, Rs 40.39 cr for Sericulture and Rs 28 cr for Arts and Culture.
During the discussion for the demands L Ibomcha moved economy cut for lack of transparency in recruitment procedure and maladministration in police department . P Brojen and Dr I Ibohalbi moved policy cut for failure to uplift standard of government schools. Th Shyamkumar, Kh Joykisan moved token cut for failure to provide educational facilities in remote areas, control mushrooming of private schools.
Dr I Ibohalbi, L Ibomcha and P Brojen alleged that the BPL AAY schemes were not fully implemented and public distribution system lacks systematic distribution programme.
L Ibomcha said the government has failed to implement Manipur Seri Project phase I financed by Japanese government and hence Phase II is delayed. Oppositions MLAs also said Manipur Library Act is not properly implemented, renowned artists were not given proper recognition.
Later Francis Ngajokpa Minister moved for leave to introduce Manipur Panchayati Raj Seventh Amendment Bill 2012 and Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh introduced Manipur Parliamentary Secretary Bill 2012.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/nine-demands-for-grants-passed/

Mail News Service
Imphal, July 10 : To ensure access to electricity by all, the Power Department is required to prepare long term/ annual plan for creation of infrastructural facilities for efficient distribution of electricity so as to cover maximum population in the State. Besides the Department is required to upkeep the existing network and expand the distribution network keeping in view new connections and growth in demand.
However CAG observed that the Department did not prepare long term plan and fix any target for additions of substations, high tension lines, low tension lines and transformers; and therefore performance of the department with reference to the targets cannot be assessed in audit. Nevertheless the Department recorded some achievements during the performance audit period.
The Department added 1,013 substations, 895.57 CKM of high tension lines, 973.83 CKM of low tension lines and 83.64 MVA of transformers.
Out of Rs 40.09 crore released by the Government of India during 2006-07, an amount of Rs 15.39 crore (38 per cent) could not be utilized. Further, out of Rs 27.00 crore released under Special Plan Assistance (SPA) during 2010-11, Rs 6.34 crore (23 per cent)
could not be utilized. The Department could not state the reasons for non-utilisation of funds made available to them.
The Ministry of Power sanctioned (October 2004) Rs 133.83 crore for implementation of four APDRP schemes in Manipur and released Rs 40.09 crore till March 2007. It started tendering process in April 2007 after 29 months of the sanction and awarded the works in July 2008 after 14 months of the tender.
The Ministry of Power asked (March 2008) the State Government to expedite the ongoing works for completion by March 2009 and to short close the schemes, the completion of which was not expected within March 2009. Therefore, the works of Rs 49.17 crore in respect of these districts were closed while that of Greater Imphal was continued with the available state plan funds and special plan assistance. Thus, due to delay in tendering and award of works the APDRP scheme of the three districts had to be abandoned.
The Department awarded (July 2008) two contracts to M/S Indo Power Project Ltd., Kolkata on turnkey basis at Rs 104.86 crore for supply of equipment and materials and Rs 16.88 crore for erection with the stipulation to complete the works within nine and 18 months respectively for improvement of Power Distribution system of Greater Imphal (Phase-I) under APDRP under the scheme.
On the recommendations of the Tender Committee, the contractor was paid interest free mobilization advance of Rs 20.76 crore for the supply component. The agreement of the work provided that if the supplies were not be completed within the stipulated period, interest on the amount of outstanding advance would be recoverable at 12 per cent per annum from the date of payment of the advance.Though the supplies were to be completed by March 2009 but it was not completed as of March 2010. An interest Rs 1.22 crore worked out on mobilization advance, was resulting in an undue financial benefit to the contractor .
Records of one division revealed that payment of taxes shall be made to the contractor on the production of original documents of payment of taxes to the Department.
CAG observed that excise duty and central sales tax had been paid as per supply order without production of original documents. As a result, the Department had paid excise duty and central sales tax of Rs 751.68 lakh to the contractor without following the laid down procedure.
The Department purchased 731 Trivector meters (2003) and 730 kiosks (2007) costing respectively Rs 2.72 crore and Rs 1.35 crore. Of these 156 meters and 156 kiosks had been installed as of March 2011 leaving unutilized 575 meters and 574 kiosks valued at Rs 3.20 crore. The excessive purchase without ascertaining immediate requirements had resulted in blockage of funds for years together.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/contractors-favoured-by-power-department-cag/

Mail News Service
Imphal, July 10 : The ban on the implementation of inner line permit system in Manipur by home ministry is against the Indian constitution, according to a press release of Manipur People’s Party.
The statement of Union H M is against the article 19 of Indian constitution. In this article, the following restrictions may be imposed on right to freedom of constitution. However, all these freedoms are subject to reasonable restrictions which the state may impose by its law on their exercise by the citizens.the freedom relating movement throughout the territory of India may be restricted in the interest of general public interest or for the protection of the interest of Scheduled Tribes. The freedom relating to residence and settlement in any part of the territory of India may be restricted in the interests of general public interest or for the protection of the interest of Scheduled Tribes.
If the govt. fails to take up any action regarding the implementation of inner line permit system, a new 18th June may come. If the state govt. fails to implement ILP system the govt. should amend ‘Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act 1960, adds the press released.
The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit (IPL) System has on Tuesday garnered more support on its demand for implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in the state with the Meitei Erol Eyek Loinasillon Apunba Manipur (MEELAL) and Independent Season Market joining the
movement.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had informed the state government that ILP was a central Act and that the state government was not the authority to decide on it implementation.
Meanwhile, hundreds of school students took out in the streets and attempted to storm the state assembly building pitching up demand for introduction of ILP in Manipur.
Hundreds of students from Ibotonsana Higher Secondary School, Lamlong Higher Secondary School and Ram Lal Paul Higher Secondary School set out marches on the street in three different directions in an attempt to storm the state assembly which is now in session.
However, large number of police arrived at three spots—Dinku Road, Keishampat Thokchom Leikai and Uripok where the three groups of students were marching—and foiled the attempts.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/home-ministry-violating-constitution-by-not-allowing-imposition-of-ilp-mpp/

Mail News Service
Imphal, July 10 : Utilization Certificates in respect of 1,659 grants and loans paid during 2007-11 involving Rs 693.95 crore were in arrear as of March 2011. There were also delays in placement of Separate Audit Reports to Legislature and significant arrears in finalization of accounts by the Autonomous Disrict Council (ADC)/Autonomous Bodies.
Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (Report No. 2)Performance Review (Civil) Elementary Education (Department of Education (Schools)) Performance audit of Elementary Education covering two schemes/programmes viz. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Mid-Day-Meal scheme revealed that SSA was being implemented without proper planning and without carrying out household survey and pre-project activities. There were also short release of fund, delay in release of fund and diversion of fund in implementation of the scheme. The review also revealed that teachers were posted in school with zero enrolment and there were schools where no teacher was posted. Under MDM scheme, despite a trend of low attendance, foodgrains consumption for 100 per cent attendance was reported. Civil works taken up under these schemes suffered from many deficiencies/irregularities due to which there were infrastructure gaps.
Audit of Transactions (Civil)
Irregularities in tender processing by ignoring the lowest bidder, non-maintenance of transparency and lack of strict economy led to a loss ofRs 14.80 lakh. (Minorities and Other Backward Classes Department).
Due to erroneous calculation of rate for piling of bore pile on higher side, the Government suffered a loss ofRs 2.69 crore. (Irrigation and Flood Control Department).
Exemption of interest on mobilization advance paid to a firm engaged in a Sewerage Project led to undue benefit ofRs 52.15 lakh. (Public Health Engineering Department).
Non-recovery of interest of Rs 49 lakh for the advance paid to the firm and non-deduction of security deposit ofRs 94.05 lakh led to violation of terms of Agreement. (Power Department).
Chief Controlling Officer based Audit
Chief Controlling Officer based Audit of Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department Review of the functioning of the Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation revealed that all the progeny orchards, except Regional Potato Farm, Mao remained non-operational. The overall achievement in area expansion for vegetable and root crops undertaken by the Technology Mission was more than what was targeted during 2006-11. It was also noticed that Rs 48 lakh meant for construction of District Office, Kangpokpi was irregularly drawn on Form number TR 30 without vouchers.
MAGFRUIT factory earned total revenue ofRs 0.90 lakh during 2006-11 after incurring expenditure of Rs 2.39 crore on inputs and pay and allowances of staff indicating lack of viability of the fruit processing unit. Against the All
India average potato production of 6.04 MT to 7.42 MT per acre, the Regional Potato Farm, Mao produced only 1.94 MT to 4.28 MT per acre during 2006-09 indicating poor performance of the farm.
Revenue Receipts
Performance Audit on “Declaration forms in Inter State Trade and Commerce” (Taxation Department) Review on “Declaration forms in Inter State Trade and Commerce” revealed that Taxation Department had no mechanism in place for periodic review of the stock of forms held by it so as to ensure that old,
obsolete, defective or unused forms were either destroyed after obtaining the approval of the competent authority or otherwise secured so as to obviate the possibility of their misuse. The Department did not adopt enforcement measures like blacklisting of the dealers who had been found utilising invalid/fake Declaration forms in the past and circulation of the names of such dealers among various units and States to establish the authenticity of Declaration forms. The information regarding dealers and Declaration
forms issued to the dealers were not uploaded on the TINXSYS website promptly. The Department had not installed any system of either verification of each and every Declaration form submitted by the dealers with the database available in the TINXSYS website before allowing exemption/concession of tax or cross verification of the purchase values shown in the utilisation statement/counterfoil of utilised ‘C’ forms issued to dealers with those in the database in the TINXSYS website while settling/finalising the tax returns. Out of 16 modules developed by the Department, only one module was functional online. The TINXSYS website remained non-functional and inaccessible and statutory forms were not issued online.
Performance Audit on “Computerisation in the Motor Vehicle Department” (Transport Department) Review of “Computerisation in the Motor Vehicle Department” revealed that though computerisation programme of VAHAN and SARATHI for registration of vehicles/driving licenses started in six of the eight DTOs in December 2003 and completed in January 2011 after delays ranging from 12 to 41 months, commercial transport vehicles were not registered in VAHAN and neither was Enforcement Module implemented. Out of a total of 1,06,752 vehicles registered prior to implementation of ‘VAHAN’ software in the DTOs, backlog legacy data entry in respect of 78,000 vehicles i.e. 73 per cent, had been completed. Mandatory fields like address, father’s name and engine number etc. were not captured in VAHAN in absence of validation controls in the software by allowing entry of incomplete records. No sale amount was entered in respect of 1215 personalised four wheeler vehicles purchased after 31 March 2011, resulting in manual collection of tax.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/cag-report-for-manipur/

Imphal, July 10 NNN : In Manipur, the All India Trade Union Congress, Manipur Branch today observed the all India “Protest Day” which was also organized in other parts of the country under the aegis of All India Trade Union (AITU).
As part of the nationwide protest, members of AITU, Manipur branch took out a rally starting from Irawat Bhawan but they were blocked by police midway at Bt Road.
Later, the AITU, Manipur branch organized a press meet at the Manipur Press Club where L Sotinkumar, secretary of AITU, Manipur branch condemned the police action.
He said the state trade policy has totally failed and as a result of this even “Wangkhei Phee,” the finest Manipuri shawl has been replaced by clothes coming from Moreh town.
Although the state government had recently announced to open Kwairamband markets till 9 pm every day, it has not paid attention towards the meager wages of all the salespersons, Sotinkumar accused.
Citing the big difference in the salaries of the government employees and private employees working in both organized and unorganized sectors, Sotinkumar expressed his desire to expand the MNREGS to urban areas.
The demands of AITU include a special policy for curbing price rise in the country, a ban on recruitment on contract system, a rupees ten thousand monthly salary arrangement for labouers in unorganized sectors, making all the workers of Angawadi, ASHA and Mid-day Meal par with government employees, withdrawal of policy of investment in profit making public sector undertakings, etc.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/trade-union-protest-day/