The House assembled at 11.00 am. of Thursday, the 17th March, 2005 in the Assembly Hall with the Hon’ble Speaker in the Chair.

MEMBERS  PRESENT:

             Hon’ble Chief Minister, 10 Cabinet Ministers, Chairman (Hill Areas Committee), 1 Minister of State and 46 Elected Members.

 QUESTIONS:                      

            (a)       Hon’ble Minister (PHED) made a reply to Starred Question No. 682, asked by Shri Erabot Yumkham, MLA regarding the improvement of drainage system  at Kongba basin.                  

             (b)       Hon’ble Minister (Fisheries) gave a reply to Starred Question No. 683, asked by Shri S. Ibohal Singh, MLA regarding the welfare policy of fishing community.

            (c)       Hon’ble Minister (Tourism)  made a reply to Starred Question No. 684, asked by Shri L. Lala Singh, MLA in the absence of Shri E. Biramani Singh, MLA regarding the construction of tourist house at Tokpaching.

             (d)       Hon’ble Minister (Power) made a reply to Starred Question No. 685, asked by  Shri I. Hemochandra Singh, MLA regarding the collection of revenue by the Power  Department in the last 5 years.

            (e)       Hon’ble  Minister (Works)  made a reply to Starred Question No. 686, asked by Shri L. Tomba Singh, MLA  regarding the construction of bridge near Thoubal Leishangthem Bazar.

            (f)        Hon’ble Minister (Works) gave a reply to Starred Question No. 687, asked by Shri Ningthoujam Biren, MLA regarding the implementation of A.C.A. Programme.

             (g)       Hon’ble Minister (Revenue) gave a reply to Starred Question No. 688, asked by Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLA regarding the acquisition of land for construction of Yairipok Bridge.

             (h)       Hon’ble Minister (PHED) gave a reply to Starred Question No. 691, asked by Shri S. Gopal Singh, MLA regarding the inauguration of Masem Water Supply.

             (i)        Hon’ble Minister (PHED) gave a reply to Starred Question No. 692, asked by M. Bhorot Singh, MLA regarding the progress of Imphal Sewerage Project assisted by he French government. Hon’ble Chief Minister further supplemented it.

             Answers to Starred Question Nos. 681, 689 & 690 were laid on the Table of the House.

POINT OF ORDER;

            Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLA raised a point of order and quoted Rule 205(1) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Manipur Legislative Assembly. He observed that the inclusion of item nos. 6, 7, 8, & 9 in the day’s list of business was in violation of the rule. He requested the Hon’ble Speaker to correct this lapse.

             S/Shri Th. Devendra Singh, Minister (Law &  Legislative Affairs) and O. Joy Singh, MLA expressed views that corrective steps must be taken.

             Hon’ble Speaker Shri T.N. Haokip requested the B.A.C. Members to meet in the Speaker’s Chamber during lunch break.

             Shri I. Hemochandra also raised a Point of Order and referred to Rule 43 (1) & (2) and 58 (1) & (2)of the Rule of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Manipur Legislative Assembly regarding the non-admittance of his Starred questions.

            Hon’ble Speaker observed that he would look into the matter.

 
PAPERS LAID ON THE TABLE:

             Shri Phungzathang Tonsing Minister, Hills & Tribal Development laid the following Reports on the Table of the House: 

                          I.                        Audit Report on the Accounts of the Autonomous District Council, Tamenglong  for the years, 1997-1998 to 1999-2000.

                       II.                        Audit Report on the Accounts of the Autonomous District Council, Ukhrul for the years, 1997-1998 to 1999-2000.

                     III.                        Audit Report on the Accounts of the Autonomous District Council, Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi for the year, 1999-2000.

                     IV.                        Audit Report on the Accounts of the Autonomous District Council, Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi for the year 2000-2001

                       V.                        Audit Report  in respect of Senapati  Autonomous District Council,  for the year, 1997-1998.

                     VI.                        Audit Report on the Accounts of the Autonomous District Council, Senapati for the years, 1998-1999 and 1999-2000.

                  VII.                        Audit Report on the Accounts of the Autonomous District Council, Chandel for the years, 1997-1998 and 1998-1999.

                VIII.                        Audit Report on the Accounts of the Autonomous District Council, Chandel for the year, 1999-2000.

                     IX.                        Audit Report on the Accounts of the Autonomous District Council, Chandel for the year, 2001-2002.

                       X.                        Audit Report on the Accounts of the Autonomous District Council, Churachandpur          for the years, 1996-1997 and 1998-1999.

 CALLING ATTENTION:

(i)        Shri S. Ibohal Singh, MLA called the attention of the RD & PR Minister on the reported missing of  bitumen during transit as appeared in all leading local dailies of March, 2, 2005. He sought a detail information on the officials involved, the terms and conditions for the transportation, the agencies involved and the progress of enquiry in the reported smuggling of bitumen during transit.

             Hon’ble Minister of State, (RD & PR) clarified that there was no loss or smuggling of bitumen meant for PMGSY Schemes in the State. He said that a press conference was held on 03/03/05 and the report was published on 04/03/05 in all leading local dailies refuting the earlier report.

            (ii)       Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA called the attention of the Home Minister on the issues of burning text books. He was of the opinion that the issue was the outcome of the government apathy in taking no concrete steps to replace the Bengali script by the Meitei mayek script. He observed that the government order of introducing the Meitei mayek in Class I & II was not strictly followed. He further informed that the High Court case regarding the script was disposed of though other cases in lower courts might still be pending.

             Chief Minister, Shri O. Ibobi Singh, replied that Meitei mayek was introduced in Class I & II from the academic session, 2002-2003 and efforts were on for phase wise introduction of the script. He further said that the government was examining the latest legal status of the pending court cases regarding the number of scripts in order to settle the issue.

             (Hon’ble Chairman, Dr. M. Nara Singh adjourned the morning session at 1.20 p.m. till 2.20 p.m. of the day.)

 (The afternoon session resumed at 2.20 p.m. with the Hon’ble Speaker in the Chair.)

 ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER:

             Hon’ble Speaker made an announcement that as recommended by the BAC, the business items No. 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the day’s business would be carried over to the next day’s business.

 SHORT DURATION DISCUSSION:      

             Shri B.D. Behring, MLA raised a discussion on the election of the Autonomous District Councils. He expressed regret over the non holding of election of the Autonomous District Councils and non extension of Sixth Schedule for the last many years. The government was not taking up any step for the holding of such election, he lamented. He wanted the Hon’ble Chief Minister to introduce a white paper on the policy of the government concerning the election of the Autonomous District Councils and extension of the Sixth Schedule.

             Shri Phungzathang Tonsing, Minister (Hills & Tribal Development) replying to the discussion said that election of Autonomous District Councils could not be held because   the Autonomous District Act, 2000 was challenged in the court and the rules of the Act had not been framed as yet.  He further said that the government couldn’t give a definite time frame for holding of election of the Autonomous District Councils and added that the government was firm in its commitment to hold early election. Regarding the pension benefit of the employees of the Autonomous District Councils, the government was examining the matter.

            Shri Ningthoujam Biren, MLA participating in the discussion endorsed the view of Shri B.D. Behring, MLA.

            Hon’ble Chief Minister, while giving clarification said that the employees of the Autonomous District Councils would be given pension benefit as per rules. The government was keen on making District Councils functional, he said.

Hon’ble Speaker, Shri T.N. Haokip  adjourned the House at  3.15 p.m till 11.00 a.m of  Friday, the 18th March, 2005.