The second and concluding day of the third session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly passed the Manipur Panchayati Raj (eighth amendment) Bill, 2023 and tabled as many as 11 papers which includes three from the Finance department and eight from the Power department.
During the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on Governor’s address moved by Minister S Ranjan and seconded by Minister Awangbou Newmai, as many as 16 amendments were moved by three opposition MLAs namely, K Meghachandra, Th Lokeshwar and K Ranjit.
However, the motion of thanks to the governor’s address was adopted by the Houses after chief minister N Biren made certain clarification on the 16 amendments.
The chief minister said that the governor’s address is just a hint of the development undertaken by the state government so that the content is not voluminous. Stating that the governor took nearly 1.20 hours to recite the address, he said it may even take three hours if all the details are inserted.
The amendments moved by K Meghachandra pointed out that the governor’s address fails to mention the status of the accused arrested in connection with drug cases, raise of tax but lack of job creation, detailed implementation process of PMKSY, details of PMGSY works not matching with ministry website among others.
Replying to the move for amendment by Meghachandra, the CM clarified that the investigation is underway for those not yet convicted and who were arrested in connection with drug cases and stated that introducing startups and new tourist destinations is indeed an act of employment generation.
Regarding PMKSY and PMGSY, he said that payments were done to farmers through DBT which is transparent and the delay in updating may be the reason for fluctuation in the details and numbers of PMGSY.
Regarding the move by K Ranjit for inclusion of all the 60 MLA as warriors of War on Drugs mission, the chief minister promised to pass the matter in a private member resolution in the upcoming Budget Session of the Assembly.
Elaborating on the War on Drugs, Biren informed that the use of drones and remote satellite sensing is a big achievement in reaching out to every nook and corner to search for any poppy plantation. The government had also started procuring new and efficient vehicles for police especially in the hills, he added.
Meanwhile, a complaint for breach of privilege was also submitted to the Speaker by opposition MLA K Meghachandra.
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12th Manipur Legislative Assembly third session | Text of the Governor's address
