Manipur Assembly session begins

IMPHAL, Dec 23 – The Manipur Assembly on Wednesday discussed the alleged report of giving allotment of Manipur State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) land at Dimapur Town Block-III to some individuals by the Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur.

Former Chief Minister and opposition leader Radhabinod Koijam raised the matter on the first day of the two-day Assembly session which began here today.

Reacting to Radhabinod’s question, State Transport Minister L Jayentakumar said that the report of giving allotment to seven private individuals including Thecha, K Hosho, N Angami and Lima Mao was correct.

The MSRTC complex land measuring 4.241 acres was initially allotted by the Nagaland Government to the Government of Manipur for development.

The Minister, however, clarified that the Manipur Government had never given its green signal to the allotment process. Jayentakumar-led Manipur Ministerial team has already visited the MSRTC complex in Dimapur last month and urged the Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to look into the matter.

The Nagaland CM responding to the request, reportedly assured them that he would do the needful.

On November 22, the Ministerial team led by Jayentakumar and comprising Tribal Development Minister DD Thaisii and Assembly Hill Area Committee chairman Thangminlen Kipgen visited Kohima and Dimapur.

The Transport Minister assured the house that legal steps would be taken up if necessary.

Reacting to another question on the alleged ‘artificial scarcity’ of petroleum products in the State even after the United Naga Council Manipur sponsored economic blockade on the highways has been suspended months ago, the Food and Civil Supplies Minister Yumkham Irabot said that the government is trying its best to make available the required petroleum products.

“The unwanted law and order situation followed by natural calamities on the highways had been disturbing movement of the supplies”, Irabot said. “However, we are trying to fill up the gap soon”, he added.