Listen to elected members: CM to bureaucrats
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 20 2018: From the floor of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister N Biren today appealed to all bureaucrats working at different levels to listen to elected members and give proper answers to their queries.

The Chief Minister made this appeal while clarifying to an observation made by Opposition Member Nameirakpam Loken in the course of discussing a demand pertaining to Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department.

"We are holding the Assembly session as elected representatives of the people.

It is another matter whether bureaucrats/officials can or cannot execute what have been asked of them but they should answer to elected Members", Biren categorically stated.

The Government will not tolerate if officers do not pick up phone calls made by elected representatives or do not give proper response.

Even if letters are sent, all officers ought to give proper replies, Biren said.

Listen to elected members: CM to bureaucrats

MLA N Loken said that officials of the State Government particularly those posted in Bishnupur district show little respect to his words.

Accusing some CAF&PD officials of adopting a partisan attitude, Loken urged the Government to take up befitting action against those officials.

CAF&PD Minister Karam Shyam informed the House that 21,61,894 people are being provided rice under NFSA.

This figure is 75.50 per cent of the total population of Manipur and the Government has been working to increase the number of NFSA beneficiaries up to 87 per cent (24,84,540 people) of the State's total population.

So far 23,34,621 ration cards have been digitised but this does not mean all card holders are given subsidised rice.

There is an instruction to link all ration cards with Aadhaar numbers.

So far, 4,40,494 ration cards have been linked with Aadhaar numbers, Shyam informed the House.

Acknowledging that there are irregularities in the process of selecting beneficiaries, Shyam said that rectification process has already started.

Elected Members have no authority to interfere in the process of selecting FPS agents and the same process should be handled by the selection and appointment committee headed by the DCs concerned.

A case is pending at Court regarding the matter, he said.

The department has started clearing liabilities of transport contractors and around Rs 5.26 crore have been released to pay margin money of FPS agents at the rate of Rs 65 per quintal for Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Kangpokpi districts.

The total storage capacity of FCI godowns in the State is 57090 MT while the total storage capacity of Sate FCS is 16,600 MT.

Nonetheless, new godowns of 9,300 MT capacity each are being constructed, Shyam said.

He then urged all Members of the House to lift the monthly allocation of rice in time as the State's rice quota may be reduced if the monthly quota cannot be lifted regularly.

The State is allocated 1492 Kl of SK Oil in a month but some allocations may get lapsed due to the Government's failure to lift them but the demand for SK Oil has declined considerably in the State, said the CAF&PD Minister.

Altogether 32,850 beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana have submitted their KYC forms so far.

However, subsidy given on sugar by the Central Government has been cancelled and the State Government is no longer shipping any sugar consignment, Shyam added.

Clarifying to policy cut motions raised by Opposition Members in the course of discussing a demand pertaining to PHED, L Dikho pointed that water resource has depleted in both the hills and valley of the State due to deforestation.

The situation demands effective measures for water and forest conservation.

Against the total daily water requirement of 120 million litres at Imphal and greater Imphal areas, there are 19 water treatment plants whose total installed capacity is 104 MLD and these plants can generate only 80 MLD of treated water at present, Dikho said.

The Government has taken up a water supply project of 45 MLD capacity at Chingkhei Ching, Imphal East district and the same project is targeted for completion within the current year.

The Government has a plan to make potable water accessible to all household by 2022.Given the State's unhealthy financial condition, a concept paper/proposal has been sent to the Central Government, Dikho informed the House.

Art and Culture Minister L Jayantakumar said that the Manipur Film Policy would be published in the State gazette and implemented within two months.

The Manipur State Film and TV Institute is not yet operational because its two major components; Film Institute and Film City have been delayed.

A similar institute opened in Arunachal Pradesh ended in failure, Jayantakumar said while discussing a demand pertaining to Art and Culture Department.

He informed the House that the State Cabinet had decided to create 17 academic posts and 11 non-academic posts for the Manipur State Film and TV Institute.

The State Government has been considering to issue due advertisement in order to start recruitment process.

While a technical committee has been constituted to purchase cinema equipment, due approval is being awaited for constitution of a financial committee, Jayantakumar said.

Officials have assessed a site at Chingphu, Imphal East for development of Film City but the area is a little small and its price is a little high, he added.

Later, the House passed four demands amounting to Rs 372,38,57,000 including Rs 56,73,30,000 for CAF&PD, Rs 253,25,79,000 for PHED, Rs 32,62,10,00 for Fisheries and Rs 29,77,38,000 for Art & Culture.

Opposition Members N Loken, K Meghachandra, Kh Joykisan and Th Lokeshwar took part in discussing the demands.