Imphal, July 16: Chief Minister O Ibobi and Higher Education Minister Y Erabot today justified the demand for the conversion of the Biramangol College to a Government college but expressed the Government's inability to do so due to the acute financial condition.

Singjamei AC MLA I Hemochandra moved a call attention motion on the floor of the House contending that the demand for the conversion of the 30 year old college is reasonable as several other colleges which were established after Biramangol College have been absorbed by the State Government.

Moreover the infrastructure is adequate and the college caters to the need of a large section of the people not only of Imphal East but also others, he added.

Erabot agreed with the MLA and said Government has already made plans for the conversion but could not do so due to frail economic condition of the State.

Recounting past events, the Minister said during the tenure of W Nipamacha as the Chief Minister, the State Cabinet on August 30.1999 decided to convert six colleges including Biramangol College as Government entities as per the funds released by the 11th Finance Commission.

However the decision has not been looked into and reviewed till date.

Stating that the Government is no condition to fully convert the College in the present circumstances, he however assured to initiate steps for reviewing the 1999 Cabinet decision.

Erabot expressed regret that the college governing body has been appointing teachers at will.

There are 20-25 excess teachers in the college currently, he said and added the salaries of the teachers have not been paid after October last year even though the grant-in-aid amount upto March this year had been released to the college.