Agri, MI, CADA must coordinate : CM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 04 2017: Under-scoring the importance of inter- departmental cooperation, Chief Minister N Biren has stated that Agri-culture Department, Minor Irrigation Department and CADA would not be allowed to act on their own without consulting each other .

While discussing a demand pertaining to Minor Irrigation Department in the State Assembly today, N Biren remarked that lack of coordination among Agriculture Department, Minor Irrigation Department and CADA is reflected on different works and projects for the past many years .

Nonetheless, the new Government would ensure that the three departments coordinate smoothly .

Together with officials concerned, the Government has surveyed works/projects taken up by the previous Government.

Incomplete projects which would be beneficial to agriculture would be completed but those which would serve no purpose would be dismantled, Biren stated .

He informed the House that no new fund has been released under PMKSY (earlier known as AIVP) .

All the incomplete projects which would be completed by the Government would be uploaded in relevant websites and the entire process of executing the projects would be monitored using geo-technology, Biren added .

Clarifying to objections raised by Opposition Members to a demand pertaining to his department, PHE Minister L Dikho remarked that water scarcity is becoming a serious issue in the State .

The problem has been aggravated by the failure of many water supply schemes .

These water supply schemes became non-functional as their sources of raw water dried up, Dikho stated .

It is quite fortunate for the people of Manipur that the previous Government incorporated a water supply component of 45 MLD capacity to the Thoubal Dam project .

Apart from water which would be drawn from Thoubal Dam, the Government has started a survey for drawing/diverting water from Barak River up to Imphal .

The Ukhrul water scheme is no longer functional as its source of raw water has dried up due to rampant deforestation in the catchment area .

Yet, the Government has been studying about taking up rain water harvesting projects at Ukhrul, Dikho stated .

Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar stated that Rs 30 lakh has been earmarked for Science and Technology in this year's budget so as to promote science and technology in rural areas .

The Government has a plan to develop Science Centres at all district headquarters which were left out earlier including Ukhrul.

The State Government has already sent a proposal to the NEC to implement the plan .

The State Government has also been working to hold a seminar where scientists from different parts of the country would be invited.

The seminar would produce a concept paper and a DPR would be prepared based on it to develop a Science City at Imphal which would be a showpiece in the entire North East region, Joykumar stated .

Opposition Members N Loken, D Korungthang, K Meghachandra, Md Abdul Nasir, Kh Joykisan, RK Imo, Alfred Kanggam Arthur, Okram Henry and K Ranjit took part in discussing the demands by raising policy cut motions .

Later, the House passed four demands for PHE (Rs 248,43,75,000), Minor Irrigation (Rs 150,31,30,000), Science and Technology (Rs 10,18,45,000) and State Academy of Training (Rs 6,52,10,000) .

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