The House assembled at 11.00  am. of Tuesday, the 29th 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. 434, asked by Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLA regarding the number of schools and Training Centres for G.N.M   and F.H.W Training Courses, the Hon’ble Minister (Health) made a reply.

            (b)        In reply to Starred Question No. 435, asked by Shri S.IbohalSingh,MLAregardingtheimplication
                        of rationalisation of  Education Department,  the Hon’ble Minister, Education (S) gave a reply.

            (c)       In reply to Starred Question No. 436, asked by Shri B.D. Behring, MLA regarding
                     the Eastern Border Area Development, the Hon’ble Minister (Horticulture) made a reply.                         The Hon`ble Chief Minister supplemented to the reply.

(d)        In reply to Starred Question No. 437, asked by Shri D. Shaiza, MLA regarding the doctors posted in the Ukhrul District Hospital, the Hon`ble Minister (Health) gave a reply.

(e)        In reply to Starred Question No. 438, asked by Shri N. Bihari Singh, MLA regarding the           
Service Rule of Manipur Agriculture employees, the Hon`ble Minister (Agriculture) made a reply.

(f)        In reply to Starred Question No. 440, asked by Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA regarding the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 and the Manipur Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1958, the Hon`ble Minister (Health) made a reply.

         (g)       In reply to Starred Question No. 441, asked by Shri S. Gopal Singh, MLA regarding                         the approved Meitei Mayek script, the Hon`ble Minister, Education (S) gave a reply.

(h)        In reply to Starred Question No. 442, asked by Shri L. Tomba Singh, MLA regarding the construction of Thoubal District hospital building, the Hon’ble Minister (Health) made a reply

(i)                  In reply to Starred Question No.  443, asked by Shri S. Chandra Singh, MLA regarding the wages of labourers framed by Manipur Wage Board, the Hon`ble Minister ( Labour) gave a reply.
 

(j)         In reply to Starred Question No. 444 asked by Shri Vivek Raj Wangkhem, MLA       regarding the augmentation work of Leimaching Water Supply Scheme, the Hon`ble MOS (PHED) made a reply. 

(k)          In reply to Starred Question No. 433 asked by Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA regarding             the Liaison Officer in the Directorate of Education (U), the Hon`ble Minister, Education (U) gave a reply.

            Answer to Starred Question No. 439 was laid on the Table as written reply.

ZERO - HOUR:

            Shri Samuel Jendai, MLA raised a matter regarding the reported fire, which gutted ten houses and killed two girls at Tamenglong Bazar. He drew the attention of the concerned Minister to provide relief to the victim’s family and to compensate the loss of houses. He wanted to improve the Fire Department to tackle such incidents in time.

            Shri Ningthoujam Biren, MLA raised matters during Zero Hour. He wanted Hon`ble Chief Minister to table a report on the promotion of S.Is to Inspectors. He also drew the attention of the concerned Minister regarding the unhygienic condition of Naganulla and Nambul River, which caused inconvenience to the public.

INTIMATION  OF  GOVERNOR’S  ASSENT  TO  BILL:

            The Secretary, Legislative Assembly intimated the House Governor’s assent to

                        The Manipur Appropriation (No. 2-A) Bill, 2003. 

ANNOUNCEMENT  OF  THE  SPEAKER:

            The Hon`ble Speaker informed the House that a Short Duration discussion on security would be taken up today as the last agenda incorporating the day’s Calling Attention motion raised by Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLA.

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

            The Hon`ble Chief Minister, Shri O. Ibobi Singh moved Demand No. 18- Animal Husbandry and   Veterinary including Dairy Farming, Demand No. 19- Environment and Forest and Demand No. 28- State Excise for discussion.

            All the Demands were clubbed for a joint discussion.

            Shri S. Ibohal Singh, MLA moving a cut motion pertaining to Demand No. 19- Environment and Forest said that the department did not take up effective measures to conserve forest and charged the department for not preventing export of timber despite Supreme Court Directives. He expressed concern over the Keibul Lamjao National Park and its endangered Sangai due to human encroachment and poaching. He pointed out the deteriorating condition of Loktak Lake and wanted to clear out its phumdi. He wanted the streamlining of the administration of LDA. He also highlighted the role of the Excise department for enhancement of revenue and the need to take up necessary steps.

            Shri M. Nilchandra, MLA moving a cut motion on Demand No. 19- Environment and Forest said that Loktak Lake had become a dying Lake due to the present environmental factors and expressed apprehension on the possible extinction of this Lake. He charged the department for its lack of coordination with other department in taking up appropriate measures to save such a lake. He pointed out the failure of the department to implement Environment Protection Act and expressed concern over the acts of Deforestation practiced in the hills. He wanted the department to highlight ground reality of Forest Policy on allocation of Fund for different schemes.

            Shri I. Hemochandra Singh, MLA participating in the discussion on Demand No. 18- Animal Husbandry and Veterinary including Dairy Farming pointed out the misutilisation of funds in purchasing CRYO-CANE machine, frozen semen and other equipments. He wanted a physical verification on the matter and to fix responsibility for such misappropriation. He expressed concern over the mismanagement of funds sanctioned under Centrally Sponsored Schemes.

           The Hon`ble Deputy Speaker adjourned the House at 1.00 pm till 2.00 pm of the day.

                        The afternoon session resumed at 2.10 pm.

            Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA raising cut motion inquired whether an order had been issued to dereserve Langol Forest, which had been declared as a reserved forest under the Forest Conservation Act. He alleged that the Forest Department had failed to implement the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972. He urged for the starting of a Solid Waste Management Project. Speaking on the State Excise, he said lifting of prohibition couldn’t be implemented successfully.

            Shri M. Bhorot Singh, MLA participating in the discussion alleged that the Department of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry had rendered useless many costly machines due to lack of proper management. Almost all the projects taken up by the department had failed to deliver, he said. Citing an example, he said the Tamenglong Piggery Farm had remained defunct.

            Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA moving cut motion charged that Wild Life Protection Act was not properly implemented in the State as a result of which many wild animals were killed and sold openly in the market. The role of the Department of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry was very important, but effective implementation of schemes was not made, he said. He said, any Minister or officials who were involved in the purchase of CRYO- CANE machine must be booked.

            Shri Thangso Baite, Minister (Vety. & A.H.) replying to the discussion said that Veterinary is the backbone of our society, but it was not given much importance. He also accepted that Projects taken up by his Deptt. were not successful. And in order to make the projects successful, the Department had set up a Live Stock Development Board, he informed the House. Due to financial constraint machines could not be installed, he said.

            Shri C. Doungel, Minister (Forest & Environment) replying to the Demand Discussion said that the main reason for the failure to protect wild life and forest was due to the traditional way of life of the hill people. He said that afforestation programmes wouldn’t be successful without people’s participation. Denying to the charges that wild lives were not protected, he said the population of Sangai had rose from 14 in 1975 to 180 in 2003. He informed the House that 6 million Euro had been sanctioned for the solid waste management Project and it would be started as soon as a protocol was signed between the French Government and the India Government.

            Smt. W. Leima Devi, Minister (LDA) said that a 10- Point Programme had been brought out for the improvement of Loktak Lake. She added that on the direction and initiative of the Chief Minister, phumdis were cut and cleared and it would be dumped as and when Ethai Barrage was opened. Plantation of artificial phumdis by the local people was one of the main reasons for the deterioration of Loktak Lake, she said, and further added that as a step for the improvement of the lake low cost latrines were provided to the people.

            Shri S. Ibohal and Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLAs sought clarification on the management and By- Laws of LDA.

            The Hon`ble Chief minister stated that the protection of the Loktak Lake would be made anyway. He assured that the controversy or loophole in the management of LDA would be looked into for rectification.

            Shri Wungnaoshang Keishing, Minister (Excise) informed the House that regarding the lifting of prohibition, the Governor had given consent to the bill on 20th August 2002 and it had been published in the Extraordinary Gazette dated 24 August 2002 for the same. But it could not be implemented in Toto due to various factors. Now the process was being carried on for implementation. The lifting of prohibition could supplement to the income of the State Government in the context of the state’s prevailing financial crunch.

            All cut motions were withdrawn and the House gave consent.

            The Chief Minister, Shri O. Ibobi Singh moved Demand No. 18- Animal Husbandry including Dairy farming, Demand No. 19- Environment and Forest and Demand No. 28- State Excise for passing and the House unanimously passed the Demands

ANNOUNCEMENT  BY  THE  MINISTER  (FCS):

            Shri P. Parijat Singh Minister (FCS) announced the proposed names of some Members of the House Committee to enquire into the receipt, issue and distribution of food grains including SK Oil under PDS with effect from 1998 till July 2003.

            Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, Shri M. Nilchandra Singh and O. Joy Singh, MLAs expressed some disagreement. The House decided that an announcement by the FCS Minister would be made in this respect on the next day.

SHORT  DURATION  DISCUSSION:

            Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLA raised a motion for Short Duration Discussion in respect of the ambush on the Chief Minister’s convoy at Wangjing on 27th July 2003 resulting to the death of two police personnel and injury of some others. Referring to the Call Attention motion he raised, he also called the attention of the House on the reported failure of the police to punish the culprits involved in the suspicious death of one Shri Th. Indrakumar Singh. He observed that there were security lapses, which resulted to the ambush on the Chief Minister’s convoy and that the lives of the Ministers and MLAs were at risk. He stressed the need of the up gradation of the security escorts of the MLAs. He observed that the Chief Minister was probably in the hit list of the underground outfits and that as such, maximum security should have been provided.

            Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA also observed that the Chief Minister and some other Ministers or MLAs were probably in the hit list of underground outfits. He questioned whether the ambush was due to security lapses or negligence or deliberate action. He said that it might be an action to demoralize the police personnel. He observed that such activity must be condemned in the House. He proposed to form a high-level enquiry committee instead of the One- Man- Committee.

            Dr. Nara Singh, Minister (Arts and Culture) observed that the House must condemn the incident. Violence had become a culture in Manipur, he added. He opined that the culture of violence must be replaced by a culture of peace.

            Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA said that the incident should be condemned and questioned why there were no responsible police officers at the site on that day. He also proposed to form a high-level inquiry Committee by a retired judicial magistrate.

            Dr T. Meinya, Minister (Higher and Technical Education) while condemning the incident observed that honesty, punctuality and collective effort of all are required for maintaining security and peace in the state. He opined for assigning a Police Commissioner for Imphal. He stressed the need of safeguarding the state.

            Shri M. Bhorot Singh, MLA participating in the Short Duration Discussion thanked the Almighty God for saving the Chief Minister. He also condemned the incident and hoped that no such thing ever happens again. He expressed the helplessness of the common people and the MLAs when such incidents could happen to the Chief Minister who was provided the tightest security arrangements. He observed that responsibility should be fixed for the lapse of security and asked the Government to take up security measures to discourage the trend of gun culture in the State.

            Chief Minister, Shri O. Ibobi Singh, replying to the Short Duration Discussion clarified that Shri Th. Indrakumar of Kwakeithel Thounaojam Leikai died due to heart attack and that there was no evidence of any unnatural death. The post mortem report was explained to the wife of the deceased but for the satisfaction of all, a part of the kidney, hair, skin blood samples etc. of the deceased was sent to FSL Kolkata for chemical examination, he informed the House.

            The Hon’ble Chief Minister referring to the 27/7/2003 ambush on his convoy in which two security personnel were killed and some were injured said that the incident was very unfortunate. He also informed the House that every angle leading to the incident was being examined for any security lapse. The enquiry report was expected in two weeks and necessary steps would be taken accordingly, he informed the House and added that future course of action could be taken up with the co-operation of the Hon’ble Members.

            Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA suggested that a high level enquiry was necessary. He expressed the view that 15 days was too long for receiving the enquiry report and wanted it to be submitted during the session to chart out further actions if necessary. He also suggested a resolution to be passed by the House condemning the incident and condoling the dead.

            The Hon’ble Speaker asked Dr. Nara Singh, Minister (Arts & Culture) to move a resolution in this context.

            Dr. Nara Singh, Minister (Arts & Culture) moved a resolution and sought the opinion of all the Members regarding the appropriate language.

            Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA suggested that the on’ble Speaker move the resolution.

            The Hon’ble Speaker, Shri T.N. Haokip moved the following resolution:

          “The House unanimously resolves to condemn the ambush on the life of the Chief Minister of
            Manipur on July 27, 2003 at Wangjing Bazar by unknown persons in which two police personnel
            were killed.

            This House also condemns in the strongest terms the culture of violent activities.

            Further, this House resolves to condole the death of the two police personnel who died while
            discharging their duties.”

            The resolution was unanimously adopted by the House

            The Hon‘ble Speaker adjourned the House at 6.25 pm. till 11.00 am of Wednesday, the 30th July, 2003.