Imphal, August 08: Chief Minister O Ibobi today informed the House that the State Government has paid ex-gratia to family members of six soldiers from the State who laid down their lives during the Kargil conflict.

Replying to a question raised by Chandel AC MLA BD Behring, the Chief Minister said that a sum of Rs 2 lakhs was paid to one of the martyrs while the other five were paid Rs 1 lakh each.

To further question from Behring on the unequal payment, the Chief Minister admitted that he did not have the relevant information at the moment but assured to spell out the reason after duly studying the matter.

The six martyrs are Sepoy Asholie (Rs two lakhs), Lance Naik Kaleshore Kom, Lance Naik Birneithang, Sepoy Charles Nicholas Moyon, Sepoy Biningbir Moyon and Sepoy Jamkholal Vaiphei.

Asholie was killed in a terrorist attack at Jammu.

To a question raised by MLA S Chandro, the Chief Minister said that the present Central security personnel deployed in Manipur are yet to reach the strength of the pre-Kargil days.

Elaborating, the Chief Minister said that as against the total number of 30 battalions of security personnel in the pre-Kargil days the strength of the Central security personnel presently deployed in Manipur is 26 Bns and one company.

Giving further details, the Chief Minister said that before Kargil, there were nine army Bns, nine AR BNs, One BSF Bn and 11 CRPF Bns deployed in Manipur.

To further questions on how the security personnel are being utilised in the State, the Chief Minister said that the matter cannot be spelt out in the open as it is connected with law and order.

He however said that the MLA may know the details, if he wishes, at the chamber of the Speaker.

Mention may be made here that the Assam Rifles are being deployed to man the border areas to replace the BSF which have been pulled out while CI-Ops have been entrusted to the army and the CRPF.

Water shed management: Replying to a question raised by Opposition MLA Dr Nimaichand Luwang, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister N Loken today informed the Assembly that though a number of water shed projects have been taken up in the State since 1998, their utilisation certificates and evaluation reports are yet to be received.

Giving details, the Minister said that a sum of Rs 2.25 crores was pumped into the projects taken up by the Rural Research Development Centre and Wangjing Tentha Farmers' Association during 1998 and 2001.However the evaluation report is yet to be received.

The NGO is run by former Minister M Hemanta and his younger brother Bhagyachandra, further said Loken.

A sum of Rs 3.228 crore was pumped into two NGOs in Ukhrul named Mata and Pharmcos in 2000-2001, said Loken adding that no evaluation report or utilization certificate has been received from the two NGOs.

As two NGOs in Tamenglong, named Ipao and Ipa, have been blacklisted, a project taken up with a sum of Rs 1.25 crore has been abandoned, informed the Minister.

To the observation of Dr Luwang that water shed projects in the State have failed miserably, the Minister said that earlier the projects were monitored by the National Institute of Rural Development and as such the State Government had no say on the matter.

Now the State Government is fully involved in the projects, said Loken adding that a sum of Rs 1 crore and another Rs 1.735 crore have been set deposited with the DRDA for Ikop pat and another project at Ukhrul respectively.

Joy shows Brajabidhu the way: Even as Minor Irrigation and CADA Minister W Brajabidhu was replying to a question raised by MLA N Bihari, O Joy stood up and asked the Minister to keep his answer to the point and precise instead of launching a long monologue.

A brief heated argument ensued and it took Speaker TN Haokip to step in and resolve the matter.