Manipur's financial position better: Governor

Imphal, Feb 22 (UNI) Manipur Governor S S Sidhu today said the financial crisis coupled with internal conflicts continued to be a matter of serious concern, though the situation was better now.

He was addressing the first day of the state Assembly.

Appealing to the ultras to return to the mainstream, Dr Sidhu said the government believed in solving conflicts through peaceful means.

He reaffirmed that the government was committed to maintaining peace and protecting the territorial integrity of the state.

On the financial front, the government was able to avoid serious crisis and the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act had helped in monitoring the financial health of the state, he said.

Plan expenditure for the current year was Rs 704 crore and for the next year, the plan size had been finalised at Rs 1160 crore.

About 56 projects at Rs 540 crore had been sanctioned by ministry for Development of North Eastern Region and 16 projects were so far completed, he informed.

The governor maintained that militant activities were restrained and several of their bases busted in the past year.

The Centre had provided Rs 21 crore for modernisation of state police and 4th Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) had been raised while 5th and 6th IRB would be raised soon, he further said.

The government had taken up programmes to improve road connectivity and strengthen district administrations, Dr Sidhu added.

Later, the House made an obituary reference to former Chief Minister R K Ranbir, who died recently.

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