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BACK	BULLETIN-PART-I No. 38	HOME
Thursday, the17th July, 2003. Asadha 26, 1925 (Saka)
The House assembled at 11.00 a.m. of Thursday, the 17th July, 2003 in the Assembly Hall with the Hon’ble Speaker in the Chair. MEMBERS PRESENT:      Hon’ble Chief Minister, 25 Cabinet Ministers, Chairman (Hill Areas Committee), Hon’ble Deputy Speaker, 9 Ministers of State and 20 Elected Members. QUESTIONS: (a)    In reply to Starred Question No.345, asked by Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA regarding the amount earmarked for the Drainage Scheme of the rural areas under PHED, the Hon’ble MOS (PHED) gave a reply and further supplemented by the Hon’ble Minister (PHED). (b)    In reply to Starred Question No. 347, asked by Shri N. Bihari Singh, MLA regarding the octroi tax income in a year, the Hon’ble Minister (MAHUD) made a reply. (c)    In reply to Starred Question No. 348, asked by Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLA regarding the Schemes implemented by M.T.D.C. and the total strength of its employees, the Hon’ble Minister (Tribal Development.) gave a reply. (d)    In reply to Starred Question No. 349, asked by Shri S. Gopal Singh, MLA regarding the staff strength of D.I. of Schools, Moirang, the Hon`ble Minister, Education (S) made a reply. (e)    In reply to Starred Question No. 350, asked by Shri S. Chandra Singh, MLA regarding the non-implementation of S.S.A. Scheme, the Hon`ble Minister, Education (S) gave a reply. (f)    In reply to Starred Question No. 351, asked by Shri B.D. Behring, MLA regarding the functioning of CJM Courts of some hill districts in Imphal, the Minister (Law) made a reply.                      Answer to Starred Question No. 346 was laid on the Table as written reply. STATEMENTS MADE IN THE HOUSE:      The Chief Minister Shri O. Ibobi Singh, made a statement regarding a question asked by Shri B.D. Behring, MLA. He informed the House that no specific order was issued regarding imposition of income tax to tribal employees. But an order had been issued to submit their income tax returns to avail the exemption, he informed.      The Hon’ble Minister (Health) informed the House that after the re-checking of the answer scripts of the general candidates in the Speaker’s Chamber by some of the Hon’ble Members, no error or regularities was found. He further informed that the whole examination process would be computerised in future.      Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA drew the attention of the Hon’ble Works Minister regarding the construction of road medians. He expressed concern over the inconvenience of the people caused by its construction.      Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA wanted all the answer scripts of MBBS/BDS Entrance Test to be published and mark sheets to be issued.      Shri O. Joy Singh and Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLAs asked the Government to make all the relevant papers relating to the MOU signed between the State Government and the Centre to be made available to the House. CALLING ATTENTION:      Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA called the attention of the Chief Minister on the controversy surrounding the death of one Sanjib reported to be Publicity Chief of an underground outfit.      He drew the attention of the august House regarding the two versions of the death - homicide and drowning. The nature of the death could be clearly confirmed by the postmortem report, he said. He asked the Government to conduct a judicial enquiry considering the suspicious nature of the death of Shri Sanjib.      Shri Ningthopujam Biren, MLA expressed some views.      Shri O. Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister replying to the motion said that postmortem report was being awaited to ascertain the real nature of the death of Shri Sanjib. If any suspicion was found in the report, an enquiry could be initiated, he assured the House.      To a query of Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA the Hon’ble Chief Minister said that the postmortem report would be tabled as early as possible. DISCUSSION AND VOTING ON DEMANDS FOR GRANTS, 2003-2004:      The Chief Minister, Shri O. Ibobi Singh moved Demand No. 4.- Land Revenue, Stamps and Registration and District Administration, Demand No .5- Finance and Demand No .29- Sales Tax, Other Taxes/ Duties on Commodities and Services for discussion in the House. All the Demands were clubbed for a joint discussion.      Shri M. Bhorot Singh, MLA raised cut motions and made an observation on the irregularities in land allotment in urban areas and its implications. Referring to a crematory ground at Nagamapal Kangjabi Mamang, he asked the Revenue Minister to take necessary steps. Streamlining of Stamps and Registration process, maintenance of financial discipline were some suggestions he made.          (The Hon’ble Deputy Speaker adjourned the House at 1.00 p.m.. till 2.00 p.m. of the day).                                                        Afternoon Session resumed at 2.20 p.m.      Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA moving cut motions observed that the failure to extend MLR & LR Act to the Hills was likely to cause ill-feeling between the people of the hills and the valley. Talking on Demand No. 5 and Demand No. 29, he said that the failure to maintain concrete financial and taxation policies were the main reason for the deterioration of the financial situation.      Shri S. Gopal Singh, MLA while moving a cut motion on Demand No. 4, contended that there were many irregularities in land allotments leading to lowering of Land Revenue income. The MLR & LR Act should be extended to hill areas also, he further said.      Shri M. Nilchandra Singh, MLA moved a cut motion regarding Demand No. 5, highlighted the lack of industries in the State and urged that investment should be made in only those sectors which would be productive. He expressed concern over the meagre amount of fund sanctioned under Minor Irrigation.      Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLA moving a cut motion in respect of Demand No. 5, said that the present unsustainable condition had been arisen due to the lack of proper financial management.      Shri I. Hemochandra Singh, MLA moving a cut motion observed that Capital Projects should be sought from the centre for proper implementation in the State. He highlighted instances of MOU violations and stressed the need to correct it and added that an effective fiscal policy must be introduced.      Shri E. Biramani Singh, Minister (Revenue) replying to the discussion said that Anath Ashram had given some parts of its land to All Manipur Women Association purely as a gift. He said that the controversy arising over the Nagamapal cremation ground would be decided according to the law. A notification had recently been issued prohibiting transfer of land without registration. The MLR & LR Act was strictly adhered to while making land allotments, he informed the House.      Shri Francis Ngajokpa, Minister in charge of Taxation responding to the discussion said that his department had only 144 employees but it had been performing well. He informed the House that more professional Taxes from Lawyers, the Clinical Institutions and other professions were contemplated and being examined. Despite many difficulties, this year, his department had already earned revenue to the tune of Rs. 40 crores, he informed the House.      Shri O. Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister replying to the discussion said that State Finance Commission had been constituted to examine how to improve State`s financial position and informed the House that its reports would be submitted by 15th September 2003. He said that unless there was a broad -based resource mobilisation process, the state economy would not be viable. Regarding Minor Irrigation, he stressed the need to construct dams to make water available during off- monsoon season. He said that the Government was trying to rope in multinational financial institute like World Bank, Asian Development Banks etc. by preparing viable project report with the Government of India as the guarantor to lift the State to a new height of development. He also said that a Bill to check the irregular appointment was ready for Cabinet approval. He categorically stated that the various terms and conditions in the MOU with the Centre were strictly followed with the compression of non-plan expenditure as the main feature. Resource mobilisation drive was being undertaken on a war footing, as the State plans size would depend on that income, he said. He emphasised the sincere and transparent effort of the Government to curb the expenditure and sought the co-operation of all.      Answering the queries of Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, Shri I. Hemochandra Singh and Shri M. Nilchandra Singh, MLAs, the Hon’ble Chief Minister said that efforts had been made to solve the problems faced by the State. He also said that realisation of professional tax from registered lawyers was not easy but the Government should look into every angle to do so. He assured the House that if the expenditure and resources of the State was properly reflected in the Twelfth Finance Commission, the financial problem could be solved.      The Hon’ble Chief Minister moved the Demands for passing.      Demand No. 4 - Land Revenue, Stamps and Registration and District Administration and Demand No .29- Sales Tax, Other Taxes/ Duties on Commodities and Services were unanimously passed by the House with the withdrawal of the cut motions.      Cut motions were pressed in respect of Demand No. 5- Finance. The cut motions were voted down by voice vote and the Demand was also passed by voice vote. DISCUSSION ON A MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST:      S/Shri Nimaichand Luwang, O. Joy Singh, M. Bhorot Singh and M. Nilchandra Singh, MLAs raised a discussion on the violation of MOU signed between the Union Finance Ministry and State Government.      Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA initiated the discussion and observed that the MOU had been signed on two occasions aiming at the compression of non-plan expenditure for the State. Consequent upon the MOUs, the State government issued several orders for freezing appointments, curtailing die-in-harness scheme and downsizing etc. He criticised the violation of the MOU referring to various instances of appointments in the name of complying the order of the court. He said that his complaint and submission was for the improvement of the financial condition of the State and to check the government so that the objective of the MOU could be achieved.      Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLA participating in the discussion cited instances of violating the MOU. He said that except for technical posts like doctors, pharmacists etc. appointments of employees like peons, clerks etc. should be done through the redeployment policy as there were lots of extra employees in all departments. He sought a clarification for such violation of MOU.      Shri M. Bhorot Singh, MLA observed that the MOU shouldn’t have been signed at all.      Chief Minister, Shri O. Ibobi Singh replying to the discussion stated that there were no instances of violating the MOU except in certain unavoidable circumstances. He said that several expenditure compression measures were undertaken and some were underway. He also cited the instances of keeping various appointments in abeyance, the winding up of PSUs, freezing of die-in-harness schemes etc. He also said that long pending court orders had to be complied since the Government could face contempt of court.      The Hon`ble Speaker adjourned the House at 5.30 p.m. till 11.00 a.m. of Friday, the 18th July, 2003.
Th. Chourajit Singh                                                                                                                                     Secretary,                                                                                                                  Manipur Legislative Assembly.
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