Manipur News

IMPHAL, August 26: The Union Ministry of Surface Road and Transport Highways had already sanctioned Rs.111.563 crores for development of the Imphal-Jiribam highway, claimed BJP general secretary M Asnikumar today.

He told media persons at their party office that the fund had been released under the 100-day programme of the NDA government last year.

Strengthening his claim, he said the BJP Manipur Pradesh has also received a written confirmation from the Union Finance Minister on the sanctioning of the huge fund.

He continued the Centre has also informed that the fund is only for the first phase of road development work for the said highway which is one of the two important lifeline of the State and it will be sanctioning another Rs.213 crore for the second phase.

The State BJP unit has, today, received all details of funds sanctioned by the Centre for road development projects Asnikumar said.

The Union Minister has also mentioned a Rs.47.64 crore fund for strengthening of the Mao to Imphal stretch of National Highway 2 which will include construction and repairing work, he informed the media persons.

According to the Union Minister, the Centre has also sanctioned a separate amount of Rs.37.18 crores for reconstruction of Lokchao Bridge along the Imphal-Moreh Highway for the year 2014-15, he said.

The Centre has also sanctioned Rs.55 crore (approx.) for expansion of the Singamei to Lilong stretch of the highway to a four-lane, he continued.

He continued, the BJP Manipur Pradesh has already urged the Centre to monitor the works undertaken under the funds and to reward the work for the highways to the National Highways Construction Limited which was constituted under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/bjp-manipur-divulges-details-of-centre-sponsored-road-projects/

MOREH, August 26: While welcoming a declaration made by deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who also holds the portfolio of Home yesterday that two or three security company will be deployed at Moreh considering the August 18 incident, Kha Nongpok Apunba Nupi Lup (KNANL), Moreh and Nupi Khunai Chaokhat Lamjing Lup (NKCLL), Moreh have categorically stated that additional deployment of security personnel in the border town will be of no use if they do not discharge their duty accordingly.

The two organisations issued a joint statement issued to the press on this regard today.

Referring to a remark of the dy CM published in local dailies that there had been no loopholes on the part of security personnel regarding the Moreh incident, KNANL and NKCLL claimed that 85 hotels and shops and 40 vehicles belonging to a single community were destroyed on the day of the incident which is in stark contrast of the dy CM`™s remark.

The incident took place in an area only 100 meter from the Moreh Police Station. Several people residing in the border town in the name of disrupting a mass rally taken out in solidarity to the ongoing movement demanding introduction of Inner Line Permit System in the State destroyed the hotels and shops in broad daylight, the statement pointed out, asking the dy CM what he can do if video clippings and concrete proofs in support of the claim that the incident took place in the presence of security personnel are produced.

Demanding dismissal of additional SP Moreh RK Khomdon Singh for failing to discharge his duty as per the wishes of Moreh people regarding the unfortunate incident, the two women`™s organizations in the statement suspected hidden agenda in the remarks made by Dy CM that there had been no lapses on part of the security personnel on the day.

Taking serious note of the remarks made by Gaikhangam in the wake of the unfortunate incident, the joint statement also demanded clarification from the dy CM for his unwarranted remark at the earliest.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/gaikhangams-remark-on-moreh-incident-draws-flak/

IMPHAL Aug 26: The Railway Affected Land Owners`™ Welfare Committee (RALOWCO) has demanded Rehabilitation and Resettlement package from the State government.

The affected families should be a part of the developmental benefits, said RALOWCO president Konthoujam Kumar Singh during a press meet at the Manipur Press Club today after submitting a four point memorandum to the Chief Minister.

RALOWCO is an organisation of families affected by acquisition of land for the construction of New Broad Gauge Railway line from Tupul to Imphal and a railway station at Malom by the Northeastern Frontier Railways.

The NF Railway would be acquiring 103.726 acres for the project.

Villages namely Konthoujam, Bamdiar, Malom, Tuliyaima, Yurembam, Lansonbi (Sagoltongba), Changangei, Salam, Luker, Tairenpokpi, Kangdabi, Haorang Keirel and Kiyam which will be affected by the land acquisition would be losing homesteads, farms, besides industrial and agricultural land, he said.

The organisation has sought intervention of the State government through their memorandum which demands four points which include monetary compensation of the acquired land based on the current market rates/values of prime areas.

The four point demand also include that since the land which is to be acquired for public purposed is their sole source of livelihood, the State government should designed an additional Rehabilitation and Resettlement package for an alternative livelihood for all the affected families, he said.

RALOWCO also seeks employment for the affected families which can commensurate with their competence either in the State government or the Railway Department, he continued.

It has also demanded an MoU that guarantees the affected families 50 % job reservation in the Railway Project in Manipur.

The press meet was also participated by other representatives of the organisation Dr Kh Lojitchandra, Laishram Ratam Khuman, Brojendro Konthoujam and Oinam Purnima Devi.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/railway-affected-land-owners-committee-demands-rr-package-including-50-percent-job-reservation-in-the-rail-project/

IMPHAL, August 26: Governor Dr Syed Ahmed today gave his approval for the government to table the three bills (i) the Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill, 2015, (ii) The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh amendment) Bill, 2015, and (iii) The Manipur Shop and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015 in the Assembly to pave way for implementation of an effective Act to safeguard the indigenous people.

Following the Governor`™s approval, a State Cabinet meeting held today itself also decided to convene emergency Assembly sttings on August 28 and 31 to pass the bills.

The cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh began at 4 pm at the CM`™s Secretariat.

According to the CAF & PD and Education minister Moirangthem Okendro who is also the spokesperson of the government, the Governor in consideration of the mass movement launched by the people and hard efforts put in by the government on the people`™s demand, has today given approval on passing the three bills namely The Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill, 2015; The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015 and The Manipur Shop and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015 in the Assembly.

He said that the meeting unanimously resolved to produce the three bills in the Assembly session on August 28 and pass it on next session on August 31 after having a threadbare discussion in the House.

Maintaining that the Governor had also summoned commencement of the Assembly sittings, the minister informed that Business Advisory Committee of Manipur Legislative Assembly will have a meeting tomorrow to hold the Assembly sessions accordingly.

The government firmly stands on implementing Inner Line Permit System or a similar Act in the State to protect the indigenous people from the unchecked influx of outsiders, Okendro maintained.

The three bills to be passed in the Assembly will incorporate all demands of the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System and people, he assured.

Asserting that the government is fully committed to its assurance made regarding the passage of the proposed bill acceptable to all sections of the people within this month, the minister appealed to the people to remain calm and create a favorable atmosphere so as to resume classes in schools and colleges at the earliest.

It may be mentioned that the government and JCILPS representatives during a marathon meeting held yesterday at the CM`™s Secretariat had mutually agreed to seven points.

The meeting which began at 4 pm and continued till well past the midnight had also agreed to produce the three bills in the Assembly.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/emergency-assembly-sitting-convened-on-aug-28-and-31-to-pass-new-ilp-bill/