3rd session of 12th Legislative Assembly opens War on Drugs feature prominently in Governor's address

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 2:  The third session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly was opened today with the Governor’s customary address.
The main highlights of the Governor’s address were improvement in law and order situation and the Government’s War on Drugs.
Governor La Ganesan stated that the law and order situation and security environment in Manipur has improved significantly in recent years.
With improved security scenario, 15 police station areas in 6 districts of the State have been excluded from the Disturbed Area Notification with effect from April 1, 2022 and thus the Armed Forces Special Powers Act was revoked from these areas.
Government of lndia approved construction of 34 Police Outposts along lndo-Myanmar International Border and 6 Police Outposts along National Highway 37 (lmphal-Jiribam) with cost of Rs. 80.40 crore under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States. Out of these, construction of 12 border police outposts and three police outposts along NH-37 are in progress, the Governor said.
Giving a further boost to the peace process in the State, the Government of lndia and the State Government entered into a cessation of operation agreement with the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) that had been active for more than a decade, La Ganesan said.
Under the War on Drugs 2.0, 3517 acres of illicit poppy cultivation were destroyed in different areas of the State and 2,567 Kgs of contraband drugs disposed during 2022.
Over 2,384 Kgs of drugs consisting of heroin, brown sugar, opium, amphetamine, ganja, methamphetamine, spasmo proxivon and nearly 40,000 bottles of cough syrup were seized.
504 cases were registered under ND&PS Act and 32 persons were convicted. 84 persons were detained under PIT NDPS Act, the Governor informed the House.
Talking about health, the Governor stated that under the Chief Minister's Health for All programme, more than three lakh persons in over 870 villages have been screened for ten non-communicable diseases through door to door screening.
The insurance cost available for each enrolled family under CMHT has been enhanced from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per annum. A total of over 2.04 lakh families with 6.73 lakh beneficiaries have been enrolled under CM Hakshelgi Tengbang scheme. Over 1.30 lakh patients have benefited till date with their treatment cost of Rs. 148.9 crore borne under the scheme.
Under AB-PMJAY, over 1.53 lakh households with 4.76 lakh beneficiaries have been enrolled. 85,866 beneficiaries have availed treatment till date with treatment cost of Rs. 111 .80 crore borne under the scheme, he said.
State Government Medical College at Churachandpur with 100 MBBS seats has commenced its maiden session. MBBS seats in JNIMS have been enhanced to 150 seats.
To overcome lack of specialists, a robust tele-lCU IT network has been set up under ‘l0 Bed lCU Project' in district hospitals and CHCs in all districts, in partnership with private players. These ICU beds are equipped with state of the art technologies connecting all the ICU units with a central hub at JNIMS.
In the last one year, these lCUs have treated over 777 critically ill patients.
A Regional Paediatric Cardiothoracic Unit with modular OT facility has been opened at RIMS, he continued.
The Governor claimed that  the State's own tax revenue increased from Rs 586 crore in financial year 2017-18 to Rs 1,649 crore in financial year 2021-22, registering an average annual growth of 23% during the period, mainly on account of growth in collection of State GST.
To increase availability of funding avenues for StartUps, Venture Fund was launched in partnership with NEDFI. To increase the guarantee coverage of loans given to MSEs and StartUps, "Manipur Credit Guarantee scheme" is being taken up in collaboration with Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises. The fund would be able to provide support to 14,000 MSEs and Startups.
Chief Ministers' Entrepreneurship support scheme will provide 30% subsidy support to small enterprises with investments of upto Rs 10 lakh per beneficiary with the objective of supporting ‘one family and one livelihood’, the Governor continued.
To support and provide quality education to poor tribal students, 3 Eklavya Model Residential Schools are being established at Sapermeina, Moreh and Tamenglong.
On education, La Ganesan, 120 High and Higher secondary schools have been covered under School Fagathansi  Mission. Student enrolment increased by over 30 per cent from 2019 to 2022.
To empower students with latest know-how in automobile sector and strengthen employment opportunities, Government Polytechnic, Takyelpat signed an MoU with TOYOTA KIRLOSKAR to set up a Toyota Technical Education programme. To improve the quality, reliability and affordability of power supply, REC Limited has sanctioned funds amounting to Rs 520.61 crore with Gross Budgetary Support of Rs 398.67 crore for implementation of Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, Manipur .
To achieve self-reliance in power generation, preparation of DPR is under process for 29 hydro projects with capacities of about 306 MW.
The Government has also initiated implementation of wind-solar hybrid power projects at Phangrei village of Ukhrul district for 3.5 MW and at Chawangkining village of Kangpokpi district for 2.5 MW, La Ganesan said.
As part of an initiative under the War on Drugs 2.0, alternative livelihood opportunities through cultivation of quality horticultural crops were provided.
In the previous year, 355 poppy farmers were brought under organic farming.
During 2021-22, five model horticulture farms of 20 hectares each were set up at different locations under the scheme of ‘Cultivation of horticulture crops as an alternative to poppy cultivation in hill areas’, benefiting l00 farmers.
During 2022-23 also, high value crops along with hybrid winter vegetable seeds were distributed to poppy farmers who had voluntarily ceased cultivation of poppy, covering 985 acres and benefiting 600 farmers, the Governor informed the House.
To develop irrigation facilities, 8 major and medium irrigation projects were taken up. Out of these, 7 projects with a total cost of over Rs 1,013 crore for creating a revised irrigation potential of 82,753 hectares, and for providing water supply of 9 million gallons per day and 2.25 MW of power were completed and one partially completed, he said.
The ongoing Thoubal Multipurpose Project with the revised total approved cost of Rs 2,107.45 crore has been taken up with Central Assistance of Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme to create an irrigation potential of 35,160 hectares, 10 MGD of water supply and 7.5 MW of power generation. The project is targeted for completion by March, 2023 in all respects, the Governor informed the House.
‘Critical flood control and anti-erosion works along rivers in Manipur River Basin’ which was sanctioned for an amount of Rs 460.426 crore is targeted for completion by 2024, he added.
New Development Bank has approved advance procurement for the project, "Rejuvenation of Lamphelpat water body to alleviate urban flooding, provide sustainable water sources for Imphal city and promoting eco-tourism" for a total cost of  Rs. 650 crore under Externally Aided projects.
So far, 10,434 newly introduced Labour Permit have been issued under Inner Line Permit System.
The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has conveyed approval of four road works with a total cost of Rs 3,045 crore in the approved Annual Plan of 2022-23 and it includes construction of a four-lane elevated highway for a length of 25 Kms, the Governor added.