The House assembled at 11.00 am of Tuesday, the 28th February, 2006 in the Assembly Hall with the Hon’ble Speaker, Dr. Md. Maniruddin Shaikh in the Chair. 

MEMBERS PRESENT: 

            Hon’ble Chief Minister, 10 Cabinet Ministers, Chairman (Hill Areas Committee), 1 Minister of State and 45 Elected Members. 

QUESTIONS: 

            (a)       Hon’ble Minister (Works) gave a reply to Starred Question No. 890 asked by  Shri S. Chandra Singh, MLA regarding the development of roads adjoining the     flyover bridge.           

            (b)       Hon’ble Minister (Law & L.A.) gave a reply to Starred Question No. 891 asked by Shri N. Bihari Singh, MLA regarding the opening of a separate C.J.M. Court of  Imphal East District. 

            (c)       Hon’ble Minister (Works) gave a reply to Starred Question No. 892 asked by Shri M. Nabadwip, MLA regarding the improvement of Naoremthong  Khagempalli road.                                                                                   

            (d)       Hon’ble Minister (P.H.E.D.) gave a reply to Starred Question No. 893 asked by  Shri N. Sovakiran Singh, MLA regarding the Salungpham Water Supply Scheme.           

            (e)       Hon’ble Minister (Works) made a reply to Starred Question No. 894 asked by  Dr. S. Budhichandra Singh, MLA regarding the construction of roads in  Konthoujam A/C. 

            (f)        Hon’ble Minister (P.H.E.D.) made a reply to Starred Question No. 895 asked by Shri S. Gopal Singh, MLA regarding the construction of Masem Water Supply, Moirang. 

            (g)       Hon’ble Minister (Health) made a reply to Starred Question No. 896 asked by  Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA regarding the number of patients registered under  the A.R.T. Scheme. 

            (h)       Hon’ble Minister (Works) made a reply to Starred Question No. 897 asked by  Shri Erabot Yumkham, MLA regarding the programmes for the improvement of roads. 

            (i)        Hon’ble Minister of State (R.D. & P.R.) made a reply to Starred Question No. 898  asked by Shri Ningthoujam Biren, MLA regarding the work programme of P.M.G.S.Y.  

            Answer to Starred Question No. 899 was laid on the Table of the House as written reply.

ZERO-HOUR: 

            During Zero-Hour, Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA called the attention of the Health Minister on the proposed plan to establish a dental college and a nursing college and expressed apprehension of shifting it to Mizoram by the NEC. He wanted the government to urge DONER and NEC to allot them in Manipur. 

CALLING ATTENTION: 

            (i)        Shri M. Bhorot Singh, MLA called the attention of the MAHUD Minister on the functioning of Imphal Municipal Council. He alleged that the government paid no attention to the problem of the employees who were on strike for the last 40 days demanding their salaries for 21 months. Highlighting the hardships faced by their families, he pointed out the inhuman treatment meted out by the government. He said that due to the strike, the areas in and around Khwairamband Bazar had become a garbage dumping ground. He wanted the government to take a firm decision and solve the problem. 

            Shri O. Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister replying to the motion admitted the financial crisis of the IMC. He expressed the need to streamline its management for smooth functioning. He informed the House that the Government was prepared to render every possible help and IMC had been asked to submit a concrete proposal to bring about a lasting solution. He also said that the existing Municipality Act would be amended. 

            (ii)       Shri L.Ibomcha Singh, MLA called the attention of the Home minister on the brutal killing of Shimthar Tangkhul and L. Govind Singh and serious injury of Shri A. Langamba Singh on 31-12-2005 at North A.O.C. Regarding the incident, he expressed the suspicion of the public that it might be done by security forces and cited recent cases of killings of innocent civilians by giving false accusation. He said that it was not appropriate to entrust the case to the CBI. He asked the government to provide aid to the injured Langamba and ex-gratia to the deceased. He also suggested that the government should frame certain guidelines for security forces while encountering suspects. 

            Shri Erabot Yumkham, MLA made observations on the incident and said that the CBI was not the appropriate authority to handle such cases. He asked whether ex-gratia or compensation would be provided by the government to the victims. 

            Shri O. Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister replying to the motion said that it was a tragic incident. Regarding the suspicion of the people, he asked the people to disclose if  there was any feedback and  help in booking the culprits. He said that the case was entrusted to the CBI in order to clear the doubts of the public. Ex-gratia or compensation would be given if the criteria were fulfilled, he added. 

(Hon’ble Chairman, Dr. M. Nara Singh adjourned the House at 1.00 p.m. till 2.00 p.m. of the day).

            (The afternoon session resumed at 2.10 p.m. with the Hon’ble Speaker, Dr. Md. Maniruddin Shaikh in the Chair). 

GENERAL DISCUSSION ON BUDGET ESTIMATES, 2006-2007: 

            Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA, initiating the General Discussion on Budget Estimates expressed that the overall aspiration of the people should be reflected in a budget and it should be for the removal of regional imbalance and economic disparity and that the present budget unfortunately lacked all these. The Budget, he criticised, did not reflect steps to enhance revenue collection and increase the state’s own resources. He further laid emphasis on the need to improve the quality of governance and implement works properly. Police modernisation, he pointed out, should not be a mere improvement of weapons and gadgets but also a changed and modern outlook and attitude of the police personnel. 

            Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLA participating in the discussion expressed apprehension that if the present trend of debt repayment continues then the financial position of the state would suffer. He also expressed doubt whether the development works reflected in the budget could be implemented or not considering the present law and order situation of the sate. He further commented that the present government lacked will while implementing works, specially in the hill areas and added that the officers of the government too lacked sincerity and efficiency. He suggested for enacting a law for posting of teachers and doctors in the hill areas and added that civil administration in the hill areas was a complete failure. 

            Shri M. Nilachandra Singh, MLA participating in the General Discussion said that a budget should be an instrument for enhancing economic activities in order to improve the financial condition of the state. But the present budget, he criticised, did not reflect any of these. He opined that entrepreneurs and persons should be given training in traditional crafts and skills in order to improve economic activities and generate income of the state. He also suggested to examine the prospect of reviving the Spinning Mill at Loitangkhunou and the Cement Factory at Hundung. He further commented that the budget did not reflect any steps to generate income of the state, instead emphasis was given on debt repayment.

            Hon’ble Speaker, Dr. Md. Maniruddin Shaikh adjourned the House at 3.45 p.m. till 11.00 a.m. of Wednesday, the 1st March, 2006.