Economy / Manipur

IMPHAL, April 1: Manipur Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam has urged Union Home Minister LK Advani to expedite the proposed institution of a highway protection force along the national highways to protect lives of the people. It is said that the proposal submitted to the Union Government by the State authority had already been approved and the matter is still under process in the Ministry of Home Affairs. According to information received here from the Manipur Information Centre, New Delhi, Koijam called on the Union Home Minister on Thursday and apprised the matter relating to the institution...

IMPHAL, March 31: With the financial year 2000-2001 ending today, the state will be carrying over liabilities of around Rs 800 crore into the next financial year. The state PWD alone is burdened with liabilities of over Rs 120 crore, according to a reliable source in the state finance department. According to the sources, the re-imposition of the RBI's encasements ban four days ago, leading to suspension of government payments, was a major factor resulting in increase of the government's liabilities. The RBI ban was after the state's overdraft with the central bank crossed Rs 400 crore. It may...

IMPHAL, March 23: State Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam has requested Union Petroleum Minister Ram Nayak to look into the ongoing petroleum crisis in Manipur following the indefinite strike called by the oil tankers' association. The oil tankers launched their indefinite ceasework strike in protest against the torching down of 15 oil tankers by unidentified gunmen near Kasrong in Senapati district on March 8 last. Replying to a call attention motion raised by the former Chief Minister and solitary Opposition member in the 60-member House of Assembly session on Thursday the Chief Minister...

IMPHAL, March 22: Manipur Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam today blamed the Assam Oil division of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for trying to "escape" from their responsibility of supplying fuel to the state. Referring to the impasse between the government and transporters of petroleum products over compensation to 15 oil tankers damaged in recent rebel attacks, Koijam said the onus for paying compensation lay with the IOC as the tankers were hired by the corporation. He, however, said the government was ready to provide security to the IOC for transportation of petrol, diesel and kerosene. The...

IMPHAL, March 19: The finance minister, Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam, presented the revised estimate for the year 2000-2001 as well as the budget estimates for the year 2001-2002 in the Manipur Assembly today. Although a deficit budget, this year's budget papers make a departure from the past by outlining a bold policy to meet and overcome some of the impending crisis, including the perennial fiscal crunch looming over the state. Standing out in bold letters, some of the salient features of the budget are the government's intention to downsize itself and to introduce numerous austerity...

IMPHAL, March 18: The transaction volume of the Indo-Myanmar border trade has come drastically to an all time low of just Rs 3 crore from the earlier Rs 70 crore involved annually. Officials have attributed the decline to the hike of custom duty on the trade items. Talking to media persons in Moreh yesterday one official of the border trade expressed hope that the decline would be checked as the Customs duty has been reduced by 10 percent after the introduction of the Union Budget in the Parliament. He said the trade method continues to be in the barter system but the rate of export is greater...

IMPHAL, March 15: With a view to curb extraneous expenditure, the government has initiated a number of austerity measures in the state with immediate effect. Among other measures, the government has temporarily withdrawn grant of special pay, special allowance and secretariat duty allowance hitherto allowed to certain specific posts. Non-practicing allowance, paid to medical and veterinary doctors in government service has also been withdrawn. According to an office memorandum issued in this regard by the state finance department (pay implementation cell), the temporary withdrawal of...

IMPHAL, March 14: The Union home ministry has agreed to release Rs 4 crore as security-related expenses to the Manipur government within this week. The ministry's clearance came after Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam requested reimbursement of expenses incurred on account of counter-insurgency operations. With the state facing financial crunch, the government has been diverting funds from other sources for maintenance of law and order and counter-insurgency operations. Koijam, during his recent New Delhi visit, urged the Centre to release funds for reimbursement to ease the problems being...

IMPHAL, March 12: The top brass of Manipur police is drawing up an elaborate national highway security plan following the torching of 25 oil tankers by militants on National Highway 39 over the past three months. Director-general of state police D.S. Grewal told The Telegraph today that police officials will meet Army commanders on March 15 to discuss the situation arising out of the March 8 incident in which militants set ablaze 15 oil tankers in Senapati district. One handyman was killed and 13 truckers injured in the attack. The police will seek the Army's help in maintaining security on...

IMPHAL, March 10: Manipur Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam has urged the Centre to provide a rehabilitation package for surrendered militants. Koijam, on his recent trip to New Delhi, informed Samata Party leader and Union defence minister George Fernandes about the state's unemployment problem and lack of funds for rehabilitating surrendered militants. As there are no private industries and enterprises, the state's over three lakh unemployed youth depend on the government for employment, Koijam said. Requesting the defence minister to set up a "Manipur regiment" in the Army, Koijam asked him...