Imphal, July 24: Marred with Opposition party walkout, today's assembly session witnessed among others passing through voice vote an amount of Rs 122,40,01,00 pertaining to two demands.

The demands relate to estimates for the current financial year ending on March 31, 2004 for medical, health & family welfare services and municipal administration, housing and urban development departments.

The opposition members staged the walkout in protest against Treasury bench and inadequate time allocation by the Speaker provided for discussion on the two demands.

During deliberation on Medical Department, Minister Dr Chalton Lien Amo said that against requirement of services of 677 doctors there are only 618 doctors, 148 specialists still needed to meet the required number 260 besides huge backlog of super specialists.

Due to inadequate number of doctors to serve at various district hospitals and primary health centres, available doctors had to be deployed on rotation basis to respond to medical requirements of the State people, he said.

The Minister went on the assert that State Government is making all out effort to maintain cleanliness at JN Hospital in addition to measures for ensuring availability of emergency medicines at the hospital.

Taking serious note of frequent cases of assault on doctors and medical personnel at hospitals, Dr Chaltonlien Amo fervently appealed to the public to abstain from such acts and instead extend cooperation to doctors and nurses engaged in the humanitarian service.

He also iterated that funds has been earmarked for repairing the defunct CT Scan machine at JN Hospital, normal foods provided to the patients and restrictions imposed on training practices of nursing students revoked.

During his deliberation on Family Welfare Department Minister Bijoy Kiojam clarified that no financial assistance have been received from the European Commission as wrongly conceived in some section.

During discussion on Municipal Administration MAHUD Minister L Nandakumar stated that plans to construct the multi-storeyed market complex at Ima Keithel has not been finalised and assured that even though the proposed structure is constructed sentiment of the public would be respected.

He further asserted that identity of the market complex refers to uniqueness of mass convergence of women members and not the building structure that has undergone changes according to requirements and changing trend of society.

He regretted that the women members are being instigated to foil Govt attempts of projecting the historically significant and rare women's market in a presentable manner.

On Opposition willingness to table a new model, Nandakumar said any improved version of market model would be entertained and discussed by the Government.

He also declared that housing loans would be extended to the needy people once HUDCO releases the fund.

The Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh appealing to all concerned not to hamper proposed construction of the market building desired that wrong conception of women members could be eliminated through negotiation.

Raising cut motions eight opposition MLAs decried that administration of JN Hospital has failed miserable and doctors are derelicting Government assignments and taking more interest on private practices.

Hailing administrative report of MAHUD Department, O Joy said new visions could be visualized from the proposals and mooted that a systematic Master Plan of Imphal City be envisaged.

Charging that Imphal Municipal Council authorities had already allotted first floor even before construction activities of the proposed market complex, he said until and unless apprehension of the women vendors are neutralized attempts to go ahead with the plan will be a futile exercise.