The House assembled at 11.00  a.m. of Monday, the 21st 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 21 Elected Members.

 QUESTIONS:

                 (a)           In reply to Starred Question No. 362, asked by Shri Y. Erabot, MLA regarding the
                                ex-godown prices of BPL & AAY rice and number of transport agents appointed,
                                the Hon’ble Minister (FCS) made a reply. 

                 (b)           In reply to Starred Question No. 363, asked by Shri Vivek Raj Wangkhem,
                                MLA  regarding the guidelines of Annapurna Scheme, the Hon’ble Minister (FCS)
                                gave a reply.  

                (c)           In reply to Starred Question No. 364, asked by Shri L. Tomba Singh, MLA 
                               regarding the investigation into the killing of Thongam Tarpon Singh, the Hon’ble 
                               Chief Minister made a  reply.

                 (d)           In reply to Starred Question No. 365, asked by Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA
                                 regarding the retrenchment of work -charged employees in the Electricity
                                Department, the Hon`ble  Minister (Power) gave a reply. 

                 (e)          In reply to Starred Question No. 366, asked by Shri N. Sovakiran Singh, MLA
                                regarding the S.K. Oil quota for rickshaw- hawkers under FCS Department, the
                                Hon`ble Minister (FCS) made a reply.

               (f)            In reply to Starred Question No. 367, asked by Shri N. Bihari Singh, MLA regarding
                               the construction of Khurai- Salanthong bridge and Lamlong bridge, the Hon’ble
                               Minister (Works) gave   a reply. 

               (g)           In reply to Starred Question No. 368, asked by Shri I. Hemochandra Singh, MLA 
                               regarding the number of Assistant Store -Keepers in Electricity Department, the
                               Hon`ble Minister (Power) made a reply.

               (h)           In reply to Starred Question No. 369, asked by Shri S. Gopal Singh, MLA regarding |
                              the number of person killed in firing since 2002, the Hon`ble Chief Minister gave a
                              reply.

                (i)          In reply to Starred Question No. 370, asked by Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA regarding the
                              Vigilance case on the appointment of Equestrian Coach, the Hon’ble Chief Minister
                              made a reply.

                (j)         In reply to Starred Question No. 371, asked by Shri B.D. Behring, MLA regarding the
                            condition of Tengnoupal- New Somtal road, the Hon’ble Minister (Works) gave a
                            reply.

               (k)        In reply to Starred Question No. 372, asked by Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLA
                            regarding  the Ways and Means Advance  taken by the State Government from the RBI,
                            the Hon’ble   Chief Minister, made a reply.

                Answer to Starred Question No. 373 was laid on the Table of the House as written reply.

ZERO  HOUR:

                 S/Shri M. Bhorot Singh, M. Nilchandra Singh, I. Hemochandra Singh and S. Chandra Singh, 
MLAs raised matters during Zero-hour.

INFORMATION  MADE  BY  THE  CHIEF  MINISTER:

                 Shri O. Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister made an announcement regarding the verification report of Dzuko valley by the District Magistrate of Senapati District which stated that a physical verification was conducted and that there was no encroachment on the site.

ANNOUNCEMENT  OF  BUSINESS:

                 Shri O. Ibobi Singh, Leader of the House announced the business of the House for the week.

CALLING   ATTENTION:

                 Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA called the attention of the Arts and Culture Minister on the refusal of permission by the state government to stage Nupilal Drama on the last Nupilal Day. He said that since 2001 the staging of Nupilal drama had not been made and asked the Minister on the possibility of staging it for this year. (The House was adjourned at 12.35 p.m till 12.40 p.m due to failure in the P.A.system.) 

                Replying to the motion, Dr. M. Nara Singh, Hon`ble Minister (Arts and Culture), traced the history of the movement of  Nupilal spearheaded by Jananeta Hijam Irabot during the British colonial rule. He expressed the desire to produce a film on Nupilal. He attributed the reasons for the non-staging of the Nupilal drama to the factionalism in the Nupilal Memorial Association.

         (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 2.10 p.m.

                 Dr. M. Nara Singh, informed that on 5th December last year both the representatives of the ‘Nupilal Memorial Association’ and ‘Nupilal and Khongjomlal Memorial Society’ were called to solve the ongoing tussle but it failed. As a result both were not allowed to stage any play, he added. Replying to a query of Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA he said that a solution would be brought about for staging the drama for the current year, he said.

 DISCUSSION  AND  VOTING  ON  DEMANDS  FOR  GRANTS, 2003-2004:

                 Shri O. Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister moved Demand No. 6 - Transport and Demand No. 8 - Public Works Department for discussion in the House. Both the Demands were clubbed for a joint discussion.

                 Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLA initiating the discussion wanted the Transport Department to implement the Passenger Welfare Benefit Scheme. Moving cut motion on PWD, he alleged that it failed to properly supervise any works undertaken by it. The department had not been functioning to its expected line in the maintenance of State Highways, MDRs and ODRs in the last few years, he added.

              Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA moving a cut motion on Demand No. 8, expressed concern at the condition of all the roads in the State. Central funds for maintenance of National Highways were not properly managed and utilised by the department, he alleged. He enquired why payments were made irregularly in respect of the construction work of Churachandpur - Tipaimukh road. He observed that the Works Department was very weak in the overall implementation of works.

                 Shri M. Nilchandra Singh, MLA moving cut motion expressed concern at the failure in maintaining quality control at the works undertaken by the PWD. Some officials of the department were undertaking contractual works in the name of some contractors, he said and wanted the Minister to look into the matter.

                 Shri M. Bhorot Singh, MLA said that the Government`s failure to have proper management resulted to the present sorry figure of the MSRTC. He drew the attention of the Transport Minister on the issuance of driving licence to underaged persons, which led to the high rate of accidents in the State. .

                 Shri S. Ibohal Singh, MLA participating in the discussion said that the progress of revenue collection for transport department was very slow and proper accounting of the revenues collected should be properly maintained. He pointed out some weaknesses of revenue realisation on levy, licensing and registration fee. He stressed the need to maintain quality control over construction of works under PWD and expressed concern over the payment of bills without proper verification of the works allotted to the contractors. He drew the attention of Minister (Works), to provide basic minimum requirements to the MLA quarters. 

                Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA while participating in the discussion said that the Transport Department was not properly maintained and asked the Minister (Transport) to take effective steps for its smooth functioning. He expressed concern over some security personnel for their violation of traffic rules and wanted the department to give instruction in this regard. He drew the attention of the Works Minister that work materials were not reached to the stores and the stores remained blank. He expressed unhappiness over the present deplorable condition of roads.

                 Shri N. Sovakiran Singh, MLA said that the Transport Department was unable to collect proper taxes and that influx of outdated vehicles from outside the State caused inconvenience to the public. He expressed concern over the bus parking at Imphal. Regarding the Works Department he drew the attention of the Minister to repair the Governor road.

                 Shri T. Manga Vaiphei, Minister (Transport) replying to the discussion pertaining to the Demand No. 6- Transport stated that a Cabinet decision was awaited for winding up of the corporation and retrenchment of its employees. He observed the Corporation being a losing concern, the Central Government had stopped releasing funds since 1987-1988 leading to the nonfunctional of the Corporation and that its employees had not received their salaries for the last about 24 months. Regarding the private bus transport agency currently plying on the Imphal -Guwahati route under the banner of MSRTC, the Corporation had been receiving an amount of Rs. 20,000/- per month, he informed the House and clarified that any accidents on these private buses were not held responsible by the Corporation. The department had earned Rs. 4.9 crores and the target for this year had been set at Rs. 4.75 crores, he added. The computerised railway reservation scheme was functioning properly and all possible help would be provided, he maintained. Regarding the National Highway Accident Relief Scheme, his Department had received Rs. 25 lakhs from the Government of India and purchased a 17 ton Crane for recovering vehicles from accident site, he further informed the House.

                 Shri Gaikhangam, Minister (Works) replying to the discussion on Demand No. 8- PWD observed that road conditions in the State was not up to the mark. The Governor Road and other MDR and ODR roads would be repaired very soon, he informed the House and added that construction of some bridges was underway and some would be started soon. Refuting the charges of some members he said that all accounts of the Store Division, Senapati Division and Building Division for the last financial year had been closed.

               He, however, said that action would be taken if accounts were still opened. The concerned contractors would bear the responsibility of  procuring required materials including bitumen, cement, steel etc. rather than obtaining from the department, he informed the House. All unauthorised occupants in the Government Quarters would be informed to vacate very soon, he said.  To a query raised by Shri M. Nilchandra Singh, MLA he clarified that there was no any liaison officer in the PWD. Regarding financial management and supervision of works of PWD, he said that he would look into it. He also said that some liabilities in respect of the construction of the NH-150 were cleared.

                 Clarifications were sought by S/Shri N. Bihari Singh, M. Nilchandra Singh,  Nimaichand Luwang, O.Joy Singh, L. Ibomcha Singh and I. Hemochandra Singh, MLAs.

                  The Minister (Works) clarified that regarding the matter concerning with NH-150, it could be sorted out in consultation with Shri. O.Joy Singh and Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLAs. He said in response to a query by Shri I. Hemochandra Singh that a comprehensive report of the Works Department would be furnished to the House. He made some further clarifications.

                 All the cut motions were withdrawn and Demand No.6- Transport and Demand No. 8- Public Works Department were passed unanimously by the House.

 HALF  AN HOUR DISCUSSION :

                 (i)            Shri L. Ibomcha Singh wanted the discussion on the non release of AAY rice for Imphal -West arising out of Starred Question No 297, dated 7-7-2003 to be deferred on another day as the details of BPL&AAY schemes were not provided as he had demanded.

                 The Hon`ble Minister (FCS) said that information of the details had already been tabled.

                 The Hon`ble Speaker clarified that it had happened due to a technical snag and that the details would be made available to the Hon`ble Member and that the discussion on the motion was deferred..

                 (ii)           Shri Y. Erabot, MLA raised a discussion on the criteria/guidelines for selection of beneficiaries of BPL/AAY rice arising out of the Starred Question No. 319, dated 14-7-2003. He pointed out various irregularities in the selection of BPL & AAY beneficiaries by the FCS department. He was very critical of the replies he received from the concerned officers regarding the correction of such mistakes. He sought the correction of such irregularities.

                  Shri P. Parijat Singh, Hon`ble Minister (FCS) replying to the discussion stated in detail the features and mode of selection of beneficiaries of the schemes. He informed the House that steps had been taken to rectify the mistakes. The concerned DCs and officers, he said, were instructed to start the required formalities for the selection of beneficiaries. Seeking the cooperation of all the Members, he also informed the House that a Monitoring Committee would be constituted with the MLAs and MPs as the members of the Committee. He also assured that copies of the guidelines of the schemes would be tabled in the House.

                 The Hon`ble Speaker adjourned the House at 6.50 p.m.  till 11.00 a.m. of Tuesday, the 22nd  July, 2003.