Centre intimated about frequent landmine explosions in Kamjong, says Manipur CM

IMPHAL — Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday said that concerned central authority will be intimated regarding the frequent landmine explosions along the Indo-Myanmar border in Kamjong district.

The CM was replying during a calling attention motion on the frequent landmine blasts along the international border in Kamjong district, moved by MLA Leishiyo Keishing of Phungyar constituency, which borders with Myanmar.

The matter needs to be intimated as the Parliament is going on. A joint survey is also required by the Assam Rifles and the state police teams, Singh added.

Earlier, moving the calling attention motion and drawing the attention of the leader of the House, Leishiyo demanded increasing of state police strength along with the improvement of infrastructure in Kamjong district, besides streamlining the civil administration.

The district is said to have only 185 police personnel.

The MLA also questioned the duty of the Assam Rifles being deployed as the border guarding forces in Kamjong district, which shares a 120 km-long border with Myanmar.

According to Southern Tangkhul Union, two individuals travelling on a motorcycle sustained injuries in a landmine explosion on May 1, 2024 at Namlee village along Namlee-Mansa (Myanmar) road. Another landmine explosion happened near Z Choro village in the second week of May this year.

Two persons sustained injuries in a landmine explosion near Wanglee on May 22, 2024, while two other persons were injuries in another landmine explosion at Namlee, it was informed.

Replying to another calling attention motion moved by Wangkhem MLA K Meghachandra Singh of the Congress, Leader of the House replied that the 10th and 11the IRB Battalions, which are under training on Assam, were recruited with the purpose of protecting the highways. A police officer in the rank of DIG has been assigned to supervise security arrangements for Imphal-Jiri Highway, he added.

Replying to a query raised by Wangoi MLA Khuraijam Loken Singh, Biren informed that about INR 3.51 crore has been sanctioned for the NH-137A and that the government is planning to upgrade the highway into a four-lane.

Replying to a question by Wangkhem MLA Meghachandra, the CM said that there are 5595 pending utilisation certificates amounting INR 13,983.96 crore as on March 31, 2023 which is cumulative from 2003-04, while attributing the increase in utilisation certificate spending to the increase in work allotment from the Central government.

Education Minister, Th Basanta Kumar Singh, replying to a query raised by Sugnu MLA K Ranjit Singh, said that the result for the direct recruitment of 413 posts for MTS (Multi-Tasking Staff) in the Education department is expected to be declared at the earliest after consultation with the CM. There has been a delay in the declaration process due to the COVID pandemic followed by the ongoing crisis, he added.

On the question raised by Khundrakpam MLA Th Lokeshwar Singh, Agriculture Minister Th Biswajit Singh replied that a total amount of INR 18,37,12,000 has been compensated to the farmers affected by the present crisis, in the first phase, while sanctioning for the second phase is on the pipeline.

Meanwhile, the CM also laid the “Economic Survey Manipur, 2022-23” on the table of the House.

Later in the afternoon session, the House unanimously passed eight Demands for Grants amounting to INR 34,76,22,05,000.

Replying to a cut motion by MLA K Meghachandra Singh during the discussion, Biren informed the House that as per a Cabinet decision on June 13, 2024, a tentative date for the election to Municipality, Panchayat and Autonomous District Council (ADC) has been given to the Election Commission of India (ECI). However, benefits and funding are being provided to the beneficiaries at grassroots level through committees formed.