CM Biren Singh: machine-mining of minerals will be banned

Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh announced in the House that the Cabinet has decided to ban all activities related to mineral mining in the state, including the use of machinery for sand mining in river banks. .
However, manual mining will be regularized to support the livelihood of manual labourers, he added.
In response to MLA Surjakumar Okram’s attention notice on the deterioration of Thoubal river due to illegal mining, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on the seventh day of the third session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly. Duran said that the manual workers can continue their work. With prior permission from Commerce & Industries and Forest Department.

However, the Manipur High Court had earlier ordered a total ban on illegal sand mining, stone quarrying and other polluting activities in all rivers of the state to curb river pollution.
Leader of the House, N Biren Singh admitted during the session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly that people can be selfish and lack civic sense, with 99% of the population not knowing how to build toilets properly. Many have built latrines near flowing rivers, polluting the water used by others.
The Chief Minister also said that the government has recently carried out large-scale eviction of toilets and cleaning of river banks from Kangpokpi to Imphal river. He further said that due to felling of trees on hills around Singda dam is drying up, causing shortage of drinking water.
Regarding illegal mining and quarrying activities, especially in the Thoubal river, Brain told the House that the government has taken steps including arresting those involved. However, he acknowledged that some people engage in these activities for their own survival, ignoring the consequences that may affect future generations.The Chief Minister emphasized that any activity that harms the environment will be dealt with strictly according to the law. The Industries Department and the Forest Department are identifying sites for conservation, and proposals are being sent to the Center for approval.
During the session of Manipur Legislative Assembly, Relief and Disaster Management Minister Awangbow Newmai said that the government had declared drought during Kharif 2019 on August 31, 2019. Based on the field survey of various parameters, the state government had requested Rs.151.04 crore. As relief assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). In 2020, the ministry sanctioned Rs 26.53 crore as assistance.

Textiles, Commerce and Industry Minister Neemcha Kipgen shared with the House that no stone crusher is allowed to operate on paddy land without a permit/license, as per the ‘Manipur Factories Rules, 2021’. has been released.
Minister for Forests, Environment and Climate Change Biswajit Singh clarified during the session of Manipur Legislative Assembly that there is no forest village in Nongmaiching Reserve Forest and there is no protected forest called Leimaching Reserve Forest.He emphasized that under the Forests (Conservation) Act, 1980, construction of religious or memorial structures is not allowed in protected forest areas without prior forest approval from the Central Government. However, religious structures cannot be ousted because of social sentiments.
In response to a question from MLA Ranjit Singh, Power Minister Biswajit Singh said that the state needs 250 MW of electricity during off-peak hours. He also informed that the pre-construction work for the Loktak downstream project at a cost of Rs 63.5389 crore has been completed, but the construction work is yet to start.