Manipur Chief minister N Biren Singh on Saturday urged the central government to fence the undisputed stretch of Indo-Myanmar border to control smuggling, drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms smuggling, illegal immigration etc.
He was speaking at the 69th Plenary Meeting of North Eastern Council (NEC) at Shillong. Chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the meeting was attended by the governors and chief ministers of all the Northeast states and DoNER Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and other union ministers.
In his speech, CM Biren urged the Centre to approve the Ordinance on Psychotropic Substances Amendment, which had already been referred to the President by the governor of Manipur. He also requested the union home minister to introduce a special scheme for poppy growers for providing alternative livelihoods.
N Biren Singh also sought assistance from the Centre in developing the INA Memorial Complex, Moirang as a world-class memorial site on the land being acquired for expansion of the present complex. He also pressed for early completion of Jiribam-Tupul railway project and to develop its main station in Imphal.
CM Biren also expressed his gratitude to the union home minister for his prompt assistance in controlling the fierce wildfire at Dzuko on behalf of the government of Manipur.
He submitted that the amount allocated under 10 per cent Gross Budgetary Support for NEC is not sufficient. He reiterated his earlier suggestion to allow access to unutilized resources from 10 percent Gross Budgetary Support of Central Ministries.
Informing the union home minister that infrastructure development for promotion of tourism per se is not included in the NESIDS Guidelines, CM Biren observed that NEC may consider covering the same for comprehensive development of the tourism sector. He also requested to extend HADP to the remaining eight hill districts of the state. He also requested intervention for facilitating necessary World Bank clearance funding for Integrated Sewerage System, Loktak Lake Eco-Tourism and Rejuvenation of Lamphelpat Water Body.
The Manipur chief minister urged the Union Ministry of Agriculture for re-survey in Jiribam and Tengnoupal districts for Oil Palm Mission Manipur. He also sought approval for the proposal for expanding the potential areas under Horticulture with a total project cost of Rs 227 submitted to DoNER Ministry for development of Value Chain Systems and Integrated Farming in Shifting Cultivation Areas. He also requested for approval of Rs 126 crores submitted for Five Year Plan for Development of Bamboo plantations in Manipur.
Biren later visited the ancient royal property at Rajbari and had a firsthand assessment of the various issues surrounding the controversy around it. He visited the Ibudhou Pakhangba Shanglen located on the property. He was disappointed by the dilapidated condition of the old buildings and moved on seeing the bricks inscribed with Meitei script.
CM Biren appealed to the tenants to come to a settlement so that the land could be reverted to the state government for its upkeep and development
