'Corrigendum' promise propels MLA Joykishan to walk out Govt accused of flouting guidelines
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 02 2016: BJP MLA Kh Joykishan has today accused the Government of flouting the guidelines of Planning Department while allocating funds for Public Works Department from Plan amount for the fiscal year 2015-16 and staged a walkout from the State Assembly today after the Chief Minister said that necessary corrigendum for the changes effected earlier will be issued.

The MLA fired the salvo at the Government during the demand discussion of Works Department.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi said that MLA Kh Joykishan is too adamant in his stand despite the clarifications made by Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar and himself.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi, who is also the leader of the House, moved the demands of Transport, PWD, Education, Commerce and Industries, Sericulture, Science and Technology and Economics and Statistics amounting Rs 199,41,30,5000 for approval in the State Assembly today.

MLAs Dr I Ibohalbi, L Ibomcha, Th Shyamkumar, Kh Joykishan, Th Bishwajit, Oinam Lukhoi raised motion for policy cut and motion for token cuts during the discussions of these demands.

Kh Joykishan alleged that there was disparity in the allocation of funds under PWD among different ACs for the fiscal year 2015-16. Although, the Planning Department had fixed Rs 1.5 crore each for all the ACs of hill districts and Rs 1 crore each for valley districts, the Government allocated Rs 1 crore only to Chandel AC and Rs 50 lakh each to Thangmeiband and Thongju ACs, the MLA said.

Regarding the ongoing construction of NH-2 from Singjamei to Canchipur, Kh Joykishan said that the work order must be issued only after passing the supplementary budget during the ongoing Assembly session.

Mandatory processes like getting Governor's assent, administrative approval and expenditure approval etc also cannot be ignored for issuing the final work order, he observed.

Maintaining that it was wrong to issue work order for the construction of NH-2 from Singjamei to Canchipur before the approval of supplementary budget by the State Assembly, the MLA asked the Members of the House not to approve the demand for PWD.

Responding to Kh Joykishan's argument, Dr Kh Ratankumar said that there were some changes in the allocation of fund in the interest of the public and there was no misuse of funds at all.

No work order for the construction of Singjamei to Canchipur section of NH-2 was issued before getting technical and expenditure sanctions, he said.

The Minister also said that he would take stringent action against the engineer concerned if the work order was found issued before receiving all these clearances.

Kh Joykishan asked the Works Minister to spell out the conditions on how the guidelines of the Planning Department were violated.

He also said that having Opposition in the Assembly would not serve any purpose if the Ministers work at their fancy and whims.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi said that the fund for the said portion of the highway was allocated from the Plan amount of fiscal year 2015-16.Issuing of work order for the said work does not need passing of the supplementary budget, he said.

Regarding sectorial fund allocation for different ACs, the Chief Minister admitted that there were some changes and disparities in fund allocations.

However, there is no hard and fast rule to restrict these changes, he said.

Saying that Planning Department would not fix sectorial fund allocations from 2016-17 fiscal year, the Chief Minister assured to issue a corrigendum for the changes that were effected this year.

As Kh Joykishan was not satisfied with the clarifications made by the Works Minister and the Chief Minister, he staged a walkout.

During the discussion of demand for Education, Minister M Okendra said that the Government has created 418 posts of part-time lecturers.

Cabinet memo for regularization are being awaited.

Shortage of teachers in aided colleges must be looked into by the governing body of the respective colleges, he said and added that the Government has nothing to do with the filling up of the vacant posts in aided colleges.

Commerce and Industries Minister Govindas Konthoujam said that one industrial growth centre each would be set up in all the districts.

He said that Satyam Infrastructure Pvt Ltd has been entrusted to liven up Hundung cement factory.

A multi national company has been consulted for the extraction of oil and natural gas, he said.

Officials of this company would visit the State regarding the matter on March 4 .

Later, the House passed all the demands after the withdrawal of demand cuts moved by Opposition MLAs.

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