Imphal, July 14 2009: In view of the prevailing volatile law and order situation in the state, Manipur government is planning to establish morgues in phases in all the district headquarters in order to meet the requirements.

"There is a plan for establishment of morgues in phases.This year we are taking up construction of a morgue at the District Hospital, Churachandpur", informed Health Minister Pheiroijam Parijat.

A total of 11 morgues at district headquarters and places like Moreh, Kangpokpi, Jiribam will be established at the cost of Rs 28 to 29 lakhs each.A proposal with a financial involvement of Rs 3.18 crores under Non-Lapsable Cerntral Pool of Resources has been sent,the minister added.

Minister Parijat was giving a reply to a question by opposition MLA Dr Ng Bijoy of Manipur People's Party in the day's assembly session on Tuesday.

"The construction work at district hospital Churachandpur is expected to complete within this year,as the target of completion is within a year",he said.

Churachandpur being an important place the morgue was conducted at the cost of Rs 40 lakhs. Regional Institute of Medical Sciences hospital morgue at Lamphelpat near here is the main mortuary in Manipur.But due to recent break down of it's freezer facilities,many have lodged complaint on it.

Even the ruling MLA Irengbam Hemochandra raised a call attention motion on the freezer breakdown at the morgue hampering medico legal work during today's assembly session.

In his reply, Minister Parijat made it clear that even though central authority run the RIMS,the morgue happens to be the state's only medico legal centre.

So steps are on to look into it in consultation with the concerned officials, he opined.

In another development, he informed the house that the state government has submitted a proposal to set up a 50 bedded hospital of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) in view of the people's demand in the region.

"A programme implementation plan 2009-10 for AYUSH inclusive of a proposal for 50 bedded AYUSH hospital has been submitted to government of India".

He disclosed this while replying to a question by senior opposition leader O Joy of MPP.

State officials also apprised the AYUSH secretary of the matter during the latter's visit to the state here recently.For the construction of the hosiptal it requires an area of 6 acres of land.

"I hope the government of India will consider the proposal as the importance of AYUSH is on the rise in the region", Health Minister Parijat said and added,"hopefully it will materialise within this year".

"We have identified the construction site at, now official communication is on for the same", he added.

State Health Commissioner has written to his education counterpart over the proposal of constructing the said hospital at the existing Tondonsana high school at Uripok in proper Imphal.