House okays supplementary grants of Rs 44,554,030,000
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 25 2022: Supplementary grants amounting to Rs 44,554,030,000 have been approved on the 2nd day of the ongoing 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly.

While taking part in the discussion for approval of the supplementary grants, leader of the House Chief Minister N Biren said that he took cognizance of all the suggestions brought up by the Members of the House and continued that the Government will strive to reflect all the inputs in the full Budget session after consulting with experts.

Replying to queries brought up by MLA K Ranjit, N Biren said that the fund to release the pending honorarium of helpers, ASHAs and Anganwadi workers have been incorporated in the supplementary grants.

He also stated that a proposal has been sent to the CRF to repair Indo-Burma-Sugnu road.

On the matters raised by MLAs LM Khaute and Th Arunkumar, the Chief Minister maintained that the coverage of tap water facilities has reached 63 per cent in the State after taking up different water supply projects under the funding of New Development Bank.

The Government is hopeful of providing clean water facilities to 80 per cent of the State's households by December 2022 as construction of water supply project at Chingkhei Hill is nearing completion, he added.

Responding to MLA Md Abdul Nasir's query, N Biren stated that a specific task force has been formed which will work 24x7 to tackle drug issues.

A collective effort is required to defeat widespread abuse of drugs which is detrimental to the society at large, he said.

On the floor of the House, MLA LM Khaute stated that the State is reeling under water crisis due to large scale deforestation which causes rivers and streams to dry up.

He further stated that availability of water is still an issue at Lamka and its adjacent villages even in the presence of Khuga Dam project.

The MLA also asked the House to see if compensation can be given to the victims of human-wildlife conflict too under Disaster Management.

Saying that opening of MU South campus at Lamka, Churachandpur is a long cherished dream of the people, LM Khaute urged the House to deliver the aspiration of the people.

To facilitate sporting culture, the MLA urged the House to establish a state of the art training facility and football turf ground at every district deadquarters.

He expressed desire to integrate drainage and sewerage facilities while constructing roads and to procure small fire tender vehicles in view of the many narrow lanes specially at Lamka town.

LM Khaute further asked the House to promote cultivation of indigenous plants and establish a cold storage facility to prevent food wastage.

MLA K Ranjit, on the other hand, asked why the Government is unable to release the honoraria of police, fire fighters, NHM staff, ASHAs and Anganwadi workers among others.

He further asked if the Government has incorporated funds to release the pending honoraria and the liabilities of contractors in the supplementary grants.

MLA Joykisan stated that the House will lose its sanctity if it cannot deliver its own assurances and claimed that the concerned Minister in the previous Government assured to clear pending liabilities of contract works executed in Thangmeiband AC in two different sessions but the same is yet to be actualised.

Thangal Keithel which is considered as business hub of Imphal is prone to inundation due to improper drainage system, he said and added that widespread dumping of garbage has further spoiled the beauty of the Keithel.

MLA O Surjakumar stated that the tabled supplementary grants reflect non performance of the Finance Department.

Asserting that there is a huge gap between the Budget Estimates and Actual Budget and GSDP, the MLA claimed that the State's burrowing also increased considerably in the last five years.

MLAs Th Arunkumar, Md Abdul Nasir and Th Lokeshwar also took part in the discussion.

Meanwhile, the supplementary grants for State Legislature amounting to Rs 17,82,42,000, Finance Department (Rs 694,52,32,000), Transport (Rs 25,83,000), Police (Rs 13,42,63,000), Public Works Department (Rs 245,41,25,000), Information and Publicity (Rs 1,34,77,000), Education (Rs 12,57,54,000), Medical, Health and Family Welfare Services (Rs 387, 38, 17,000), Municipal Administration Housing and Urban Development (Rs 27,96,56,000), Labour and Employment (Rs 43,47,000), Agriculture (Rs 15,03,72,000), Animal Husbandry and Veterinary including Dairy Farming (Rs 7,55,69,000), Environment and Forest (Rs 7,52,95,000), Community and Rural Development (Rs 2128,90,00,000), Textiles, Commerce and Industries Rs (11,94,05,000), Youth Affairs and Sports (Rs 17,02,91,000), Administration of Justice (Rs 4,37,07,000), Election (Rs 32,54,16,000), Sales Tax, Other Taxes/Duties on Commodities and Services (Rs 93,88,000), Planning (Rs 512,86,86,000), Fire Protection and Control (Rs 3,50,000), Jails (Rs 54,92,000), Rehabilitation (Rs 88,50,000), Panchayat (Rs 6,12,02,000), Art & Culture (Rs 3,27,02,000), Horticulture and Soil Conservation (Rs 11,79,50,000), Social Welfare Department (Rs 159,08,71,000), MOBC (Rs 31,63,59,000), Relief and Disaster Management (Rs 79,91,29,000), Economics and Statistics (Rs 25,00,000) and In-formation Technology (Rs 22,00,00,000) were later approved by the House.

The Manipur Appropriation (No 1) Bill, 2022 and the Manipur Appropriation (No 2) Bill, 2022 were also introduced by the Leader of the House.

Comment