No question of age relaxation: CM
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 01 2013:
Chief Minister O Ibobi has categorically stated there is no question of relaxing the age bar for candidates set to appear in the Manipur civil services examination.
Responding to a call attention motion raised by Opposition member Dr I Ibohalbi about the need for relaxation of age bar for civil service aspiring candidates, particularly those belonging to general category, Ibobi informed the House that relaxation of age bar for aspiring candidates was done once in 2010 .
Although civil services examination should be conducted every year regardless of the number of vacancies, no civil service exam was held in 2011-12 .
Following the line of UPSC, the State Government decided to conduct combined civil services exam through Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) in place of the earlier practice of conducting civil service exams separately.
The question of age bar relaxation is not appropriate any more after a similar relaxation was given in 2010, Ibobi asserted.
Raising the call attention motion, Dr I Ibohalbi pointed out that age bar for aspiring civil service candidates has been relaxed by five years for ST/SC, three years for OBC and 10 years for physically handicapped.
But there is no relaxation for candidates belonging to general category and this is not fair.
In view of the relaxation given to other categories, it is logical enough to give at least two years' relaxation to the general category, Ibohalbi stated.
L Ibomcha stated that people in both rural and urban areas have not been receiving adequate and regular potable water supply on account of not repairing pipe-lines in time.
Replying to Ibomcha's call attention motion, PHE Minister I Hemochandra stated that the Government would look into the possibility of tabling an amendment bill for the Water Supply Act in the next Assembly session so that people tapping potable water in illegal manner can be punished.
Regarding unavailability of potable water in adequate quantity and regularly, officials of the department have already checked if there is leakage in pipe-lines.
Though there are certain lapses on the part of the department, there is also a need for public awareness.
Even as the department has repaired leaked and broken pipes, pipe-lines were found bored again for tapping potable water illegally.
Because of such illegal tapping, 30 to 40 per cent of the total volume of water supply by water supply plants cannot reach authorised consumers, Hemochandra stated.
Earlier raising the call attention motion, L Ibomcha highlighted the need to amend the Water Supply Act so that people tapping potable water illegally can be arrested.