Imphal, July 06 2009: The manipur Legislative Assembly today unanimously passed the address of the Governor, Gurbachan Jagat which was given in the House on March 27 last.

The House began discussion of the address on July 3, the first day of the current session.

It may be recalled that ruling MLA Dr Kh Loken moved the motion for discussion of the Governor's address on the first day of the session, and ruling MLA E Dwijamani seconded the motion.

The treasury bench left nothing to praise the Governor's address describing it as a perfect one.

However, from the opposition bench, its leader Radhabinod Koijam, O Joy, Dr Ng Bijoy, Dr I Ibohalbi and RK Anand pointed out many 'flaws' in the address and demanded it to be amended.

Today MLA Morung Makunga expressed his views on the address.

After lending patient ears to the various opinions and arguments of the opposition MLAs for two days, the leader of the House, Chief Minister O Ibobi today gave his replies in the House.

The Chief Minister said, the top priority of the SPF government lies in the steps to alleviate the various hardships being faced by the people of the state.

One of the problems is electricity.

In order to solve a major part of the power crisis, the government is presently working on the laying of power transmission lines at an estimated cost of Rs 1,700 crore from Patna in Bihar via Silchar and Kohima upto Imphal, he said adding that all necessary steps have been taken.

Chief Minister Ibobi said, completion of the project is targeted at 2011-12 .

He pointed out that since the transmission lines are not good enough, adequate power can not be supplied from outside.

When Tipaimukh dam and other dams are constructed and sufficient power is available for the state, and when we want to sell the remaining power to outside states, good transmission lines need to be constructed, Ibobi said.

He further said, the State power department can collect a revenue of just about Rs 1 crore per month, and the amount that the government has to cough up for power monthly is about Rs 9 crore.

In order to make up all these shortfalls, the state government is closely consulting with the UPA government, Ibobi said and added, if there is sufficient power, there will be no poblem in water suply as well.

Drawing the attention of the House, the Chief Minister said, the government is negotiating with the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) for setting up a separate hospital for HIV/AIDS in Manipur.

It has also been agreed on naming the hospital as "Infected Disease Diagnosis Centre" specially to allay the fear of coming to this hospital, the leader of the House.

This hospital is being planned to be located within the complex of JNIMS.

Union Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) will bear the cost of constructing the infrastructure and NACO will help in other aspects, Chief Minister Ibobi informed the House.

Expressing his disbelief that the Loktak Development Authority (LDA) will be able to develope the lake, the Chief Minister said, the government has arrangements to hand over the onus of cleaning and developing the lake to a private company.

The Planning Commission had directed the state government to complete the cleaning of Loktak lake within 21 days.

However, four months already passed.

A team of Planning Commission had come here and expressed their reluctance of releasing funds further, he said.

The Chief Minister informed the members of the House that the Ministry of Home Affairs has already released money for buying three hovercrafts for the Loktak Protection Force.

Replying to MLA Morung Makunga's questions, Chief Minister Ibobi said, the government is closely monitoring the Suspension of Operation with various militant outfits.

The government is spending Rs 1 crore for each of the designated camps of the outfits.

Each of the cadres is being paid Rs 3000 a month.

If any group is found violating the SoO rules, the agreement will be withdrawn and legal action will be taken against the particular group, the Chief Minister said.

He also said, if any personnel of the security forces is found guilty of committing excesses, appropriate action will also be taken against him.

Regarding another question raised by Morung Makunga on the MOBC that is MOBC Minister meant only for the Muslims and that only one or two tribals are given grants, the Chief Minister drew the attention of Minister Allauddin and asked him to look into the grievances of the member.

Finally the House unanimously passed the Governor's address.

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