Imphal, February 25, 2022 (DIPR): The 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly passed six Demands for Grants amounting to a total of Rs.25,69,90,14,000 on the eighth day of its ongoing 10th Session, today.
The demands are Rs. 172,52,03,000 for Demand No. 4 - Land Revenue, Stamps & Registration and District Administration, Rs. 2294,19,78,000 for Demand No. 5 - Finance Department, Rs. 70,78,95,000 for Demand No. 25 - Youth Affairs and Sports Department, Rs. 18,15,14,000 for Demand No. 28 - State Excise, Rs. 7,33,26,000 for Demand No. 29 - Sales Tax, Other Taxes/Duties on Commodities & Services and Rs. 6,90,98,000 for Demand No. 42 - State Academy of Training.
During the discussion and voting on demands for grants of Demand No 4 – Land Revenue, Stamps & Registration and District Administration, Chief Minister Shri N.Biren Singh observed before the House that there is a need to survey all hill areas in the State under a separate land law and give land ownership entitlement without hurting the interests of both the valley and hills to bring equal development in the State. He said that ownership entitlement will ensure that the villagers avail government schemes more easily.
Shri Biren sought cooperation of all especially the leaders of the Hill districts in conducting a survey of the hill villages under a separate land law.
Observing that Manipur is a land-locked State, the Chief Minister also expressed the need to safeguard and protect paddy fields and as such the Conservation of Paddyland and Wetlands Act, 2014 was enacted.
The Chief Minister also observed that the government is under process to initiate construction of vertical official quarters in Imphal to stop horizontal expansion of land use for construction.
Stating that the government is trying to implement an overall planning to sort out areas for residential/ housing, market, government institutions, etc, the leader of the House also expressed the need to implement such a comprehensive planning in all districts of the State.
Shri Karam Shayam, who is in charge of Revenue, said that out of Rs. 270.18 lakhs estimated Tax Collection, the Revenue department has collected Rs 266.44 lakhs including Rs.240.55 lakhs as revenue tax from the valley districts and Rs. 25.89 as Hills House Tax.
He added survey of Jiribam district is 90 percent completed and people there should pay Revenue Tax and not Hills House tax as per law.
Shri Shyam further informed the House that the District Boundary Commission has been constituted but it is yet to start working. He said once the commission starts working, the district boundary issues will be settled. Stating that settlement of village-village boundary issues will be hard since the hill villages are not surveyed lands, he sought cooperation from all in conducting survey of the hill villages.
The General Financial Rules (GFR), 2017 is mandatory, said Chief Minister Shri N.Biren Singh said during discussion and voting on demands for grants of Demand No 5 – Finance Department.
The leader of the House who also holds the Finance portfolio also said that the Outstanding Debt of the State has considerably decreased over the years from 67 percent of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) on 31st March 2011 to 40 percent on 31st March, 2019. He said that the government has projected to decrease the debt to 37.88 percent on 31st March 2020 and further to 35.91 percent on 31st March 2021.
The State Own Tax Revenue has also witnessed a growth from Rs. 586 crore in 2016-17 to Rs. 790 crore in 2017-18 to Rs. 1046 in 2018-19 and projected to grow further in the current financial year.
Shri Letpao Haokip, who holds the Youth Affairs and Sports portfolio assured construction of a toilet at the Astro Turf Football Ground complex at Lairikyengbam Leikai. At the same time he said his department will discuss construction of the approach road to the ground with other concerned departments including PWD, IFCD and MDS.
He said there is a 10 percent reservation for eligible sportspersons in government jobs and incentives for sportspersons according to their level of achievements and educational qualifications.
During the Demand Discussion on State Excise, Leader of the House Shri N. Biren, also in-charge of State excise, informed the house that State Excise has collected revenue amounting to Rs.38.73 Lakhs in 2017-18, Rs. 44.97 Lakhs in 2018-19 and Rs. 43 Lakhs in 2019 till 31st, January 2020.
He added that despite the manpower shortfall, State Excise in cooperation with the police and other civil organisations has undertaken essential operations; 2893 cases in 2017-18 and 3197 cases in 2018-19 respectively.
Opposition MLAs Shri K. Ranjit Singh, Dr. Chaltonlien Amo, Shri D. Korungthang, Md. Abdul Nasir, Shri Kh. Joykisan Singh, Shri RK Imo Singh, Shri Surajkumar Okram and Shri K. Meghachandra raised motion for disapproval of policy cut during the discussion on Demands for Grants. (DIPR)