Manipur Chief Minister N Biren on the eve of New Year on Friday extended his warm greetings to the people of the state and said that legal action will be taken against the land owner of poppy farms in Manipur from 2022 onwards.
Speaking to the media at the chief minister's secretariat in Imphal, Biren informed that the Centre has given approval for initiating actions against the land owners of poppy farms in the state. A joint committee has been formed to check any illegal poppy farming mostly at the border areas of the state, he added.
The war on drugs mission of the state government is going on successfully with the participation of the general public, where various villagers had even volunteered to destroy the poppy plantation, Biren said, adding that above 11,600 acres of poppy cultivation have been destroyed.
In the last four-five years, the state has witnessed a tremendous development and is progressing forward in every aspect, he stated, highlighting the various welfare programmes and schemes taken up by the BJP-led government in both the Centre and state.
Moreover, the state government has almost solved all the border disputes of the state and have set-up police outposts in those disputed areas to prevent any encroachment and illegal influx of outsiders, Biren said.
Regarding the few present disputed border boundaries, the External Affairs Ministry has been working on bringing a political solution to the issue. Fencing work for the remaining undisputed border is ongoing, he added.
He also maintained that the state has become bandh and blockade free, bonds between the various ethnic communities of Manipur has strengthened and peace and harmony had prevailed.
The long standing demand for ILP has been fulfilled in the state in order to preserve the state's diverse indigenous culture and integrity, he said, adding that for more effective implementation of ILPS, the state government will be consulting with the legal experts, constitution experts and members of JCILPS.
He further informed that 3.63 lakh beneficiaries have been enrolled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme and Rs 51 crore has been utilised for cost-free treatment of 41,965 beneficiaries. Another 4.46 lakh beneficiaries have been enrolled under CMHT and Rs 72.1 crore has been utilised for their cost-free treatment, he continued.
In the education sector, 237 schools were inaugurated under School Fagathansi Mission for overall infrastructure development and above 3,000 dropout students belonging to financially weaker sections have been newly enrolled, Biren added.
As connectivity is the key to development, the state government is giving special focus on the improvement of roadways and railway connectivity, he said, informing that the Barak Bridge and Makru bridge have been reconstructed.
A total of Rs 3,080 crore has been sanctioned for the widening of the Imphal-Jiribam highway for faster connectivity, he said.
He further appealed to the public to bear the inconvenience caused during the construction of the various roadways of Manipur.
Biren also informed that the work of Jiribam-Tupul Imphal Railway Line amounting to Rs 13,809 crore is in progress and it is likely to be completed by March of 2022.
On the detection of the first Omicron case in the state, he appealed to the public to stay safe by following Covid appropriate behaviour at all public gatherings instead of making blame game.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be inaugurating and laying the foundation stones of various projects during his visit to the state which is scheduled on January 4, Biren said and highlighted some projects which the prime minister will be inaugurating.
The projects include Power stations, Barak bridge, government residential quarters, 150-bedded Covid Hospital at Kiyamgei among others.
He also cautioned that anyone found to be drinking and driving on the occasion of new year will face legal consequences, including those who are driving without licence, helmet and under age drivers.
Concerning the unity of Manipur, the chief minister said, "Let us stop calling hills and valleys. Let us call it Manipur as a whole... May the peace and harmony continue to prevail in Manipur with the blessing of the almighty".
