The House assembled at 11.00  a.m. of Tuesday, the 15th 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.325, asked by S/Shri M.Nilchandra Singh and   N..Sovakiran Singh, MLAs regarding the reasons for the delay in the construction of roads under PMGSY schemes for the year 2002- 2003, the Hon`ble Minister (R.D & PR) gave a reply and further supplemented by the Hon`ble Chief Minister.

(b)        In reply to Starred Question No. 326, asked by Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLA regarding the number of P.H.Cs running without Medical Officers and name of doctors posted at Yairipok, Khoirom and Yambem P.H.Cs, the Hon`ble Minister (Health) made a reply.

(c)        In reply to Starred Question No. 327, asked by Shri I. Hemochandra Singh, MLA regarding the Canchipur and Chinga water reservoirs, the Hon’ble MOS (PHED) gave a reply and further supplemented by Minister (PHED).

(d)        In reply to Starred Question No. 328, asked by Shri O.Joy Singh, MLA regarding the   implementation of Class Project in the Education Department, the Hon`ble Minister, Education (S) made a reply.

(e)        In reply to Starred Question No. 329, asked by Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA regarding the period for undergoing the course of MD/MS, the Hon’ble Minister (Health) gave a reply.

(f)         In reply to Starred Question No. 330, asked by Shri M. Nilchandra Singh, MLA in place of Shri S. Ibohal Singh, MLA regarding the status of LDA, the Hon’ble Minister  (LDA) made a reply. She further assured that LDA by-laws and other relevant documents would be tabled in the House.

               Answers to Starred Question Nos. 331, 332 and 333 were laid on the Table as written replies.

ZERO - HOUR:

S/Shri  Ningthoujam Biren, P.S. Henry Paotei and L. Ibomcha Singh, MLAs raised matters during Zero- Hour.

CALLING   ATTENTION :

(i)         Shri M. Nilchandra Singh, MLA called the attention of the Chief Minister on the doubts cast over the veracity of the Census Report, 2001 in respect of Senapati, Chandel and Ukhrul Districts as published in local dailies.

            He expressed apprehension at the abnormal increase of population and its possible impact on Assembly segment re-organisation. He alleged that lack of proper evaluation and irregularities in documentation during census operation could be the reasons for the abnormal growth in population in certain areas. He questioned the Chief
Minister why the draft Report of the Census was not corrected earlier. The Hon`ble Chief Minister replied to the discussion that the entire process of census operation had been
completed before the present SPF government came into power. He said that the Preliminary Census Report of 2001 of the state had some abnormal features in population figures of some constituencies and that the state government was committed to make the necessary corrections. An Officers’ Committee had been constituted on 9th July 2003 for submitting a report within a month after conducting spot verification; he informed the House and added that necessary action would be taken based on the report

            Necessary clarifications were made to the queries of S/Shri M. Nilchandra Singh, O. Joy Singh, N. Sovakiran Singh and Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLAs.

( 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 2.25 p.m.

(ii)        Dr. Nimaichand Luwang and Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLAs called the attention of the Revenue Minister on the public protest against the enhancement of Land Revenue ranging from 168% to 14,345%.

            Dr. Nimaichand Luwang MLA said that the present proposal of the increase of Land Revenue violated the provisions of the MLR&LR Act and needed to be rectified. He suggested that necessary rectification must be taken while assessing land classification and Land Revenue.

            Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA termed the present proposal of the Revenue department as a gross mistake. He alleged that at the time of increasing the Land Tax, public opinion were not taken into consideration as per the provision of the MLR&LR Act.

            Shri E. Biramani Singh, Minister (Revenue) while clarifying said that the present increase in the Revenue Tax was decided during the year 2000. He said as per the amendment made on the MLR & LR Act, land tax could be increased upto 450% at any period of time. He informed the House that considering all angles, the department had
proposed for an increase of 100% i.e two times the prevailing rate and it had been submitted to the cabinet for approval.

            Further clarifications were made to the queries of Dr. Nimaichand Luwang and Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLAs. Necessary notifications issued in these regard would be tabled in the House, the Minister added.

GENERAL DISCUSSION ON BUDGET ESTIMATES, 2003-2004:

            Shri B.D. Behring, MLA while participating in the discussion said that the Budget didn’t reflect the concrete policy of the government. He expressed concern over the frequent tours undertaken by the Ministers and bureaucrats. Funds for Centrally Sponsored Schemes were not released in time resulting to non-implementation of various schemes, he said and further added that payment of old-age pensions and construction of Angawadi centres were not made.

            Shri M. Bhorot Singh, MLA participating in the discussion said that the Budget was unrealistic as the actual figures and thrust areas were not clearly demarcated. He questioned why accounts of certain division of the state PWD had not been closed for a long period after the end of the previous financial year. He expressed suspicion  over the dealings of the auction of octroi by the Imphal Municipality Council.

          Shri I. Hemochandra Singh, MLA participating in the discussion said that the Budget didn’t reflect its thrust area and described the Budget as routine and lacking direction. He stressed the need to build up infrastructures in  the State. Priority of the Government should be given to agro-based industries and handicrafts, he suggested.

            Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLA observed that the Budget was not an ideal Budget as it provided very little allocation for the plan sectors. He asserted that the Government should look for new avenues for generating employment since big industries except paper industry was possible in our State. Only agro-based and forest-based industries could pull our State out of the present financial crisis, he said. The Hon’ble MLA asserted that if the Government sincerely took up 100% Centrally Sponsored Schemes, the State could be developed by leaps and bounds.

            Shri O. Ibobi Singh Hon`ble Chief Minister replying to the general discussion on Budget Estimates, 2003-2004, thanked the opposition for giving constructive suggestions. Referring to a question of Samuel Jendai, MLA he stated that 50% of the PMGSY fund for an amount of Rs 40 crores had been utilized and the remaining was lying in the State account and that another Rs 40 crores was with the RD&PR Department. The Hon`ble Chief Minister shared the concern of the employees of the sick units of the State but it had to be closed down with the Union Ministry agreeing to give 80% of the total expenditures involved as grant and the remaining 20% as loan. He referred to the step- motherly allotment of Non Plan expenditure of the State in the 11th Finance Commission award. He asserted that the State Government had every right to seek its genuine required demands from the Union Government. In order to properly reflect the Non- Plan expenditure in the 12th Finance Commission, various experts like retired Governor of RBI would be consulted, he informed the House. He also informed the House that accumulated problems facing the State would be looked into sincerely. Regarding the question of implementing the 6th Schedule, the Hon`ble Chief Minister said that various administrative inconveniences were needed to be corrected and a final touch was being awaited. He also responded to the matters regarding Old Age Pension, PMGSY, Aganwadi construction etc saying that necessary funds would be released. Regarding the Sarva Shiksha Aviyan, Flood relief, On- Line Lottery and Modernisation of Home Department the Hon`ble Chief Minister replied that they would be implemented very soon. He said that the State Government would explore all avenues for resource mobilisation. Concluding his clarification, the Hon`ble Chief Minister made it clear that priority would be given to Centrally Sponsored Schemes and stated that the present Government was sincerely trying to solve the problems of the State without any financial mismanagement.

           Clarifications were made to the queries of S/Shri M. Nilchandra Singh, BD Behring, Samuel Jendai and Thangminlien Kipgen, MLAs.            

       The Hon`ble Speaker adjourned the House at 6.25 p.m till 11.00 a.m of Wednesday, the 16th July, 2003.