Ibobi admits incoordination among Govt depts
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 28 2014 : Chief Mi-nister Okram Ibobi has admi- tted on the floor of the House that several Government departments have been acting independently without consul-ting other departments even if the projects/works they are executing require effective coordination and consultation.

Ibobi who is also in charge of Finance Department today tabled seven demands for discussion and approval of the House.

The demands tabled today pertained to Department of Tribal Affairs, Hills and Scheduled Caste Development; Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution; Community and Rural Development; Public Health Engineering; Minor Irrigation; Panchayat and Sericul- ture.

Joining the demand discussion, Chief Minister O Ibobi stated that funds sanctioned under AIVP, NLCPR and NEC for Minor Irrigation should be utilized after identifying water sources with proper planning.

"But every Member of the House has been asking how many projects have been enlisted for their respective Assembly segments", Ibobi decried.

Of the many major and medium projects taken up by IFCD, several mini-dams were constructed.

Without studying economic viability, Power Department electrified many small villages and hamlets where solar lighting sys- tem can be installed through MANIREDA, Ibobi asserted.

There is no coordination among different departments and they have been acting independently, Ibobi decried.

Highlighting the dependence on seasonal rainfall for domestic water requirement, PHED Minister I Hemo-chandra stressed on the need to formulate a water policy.

However, on account of fund paucity and small budgetary allocation this year, it would be difficult to enact a water security Act.

Even though such an Act would be of immense utility in future, formulation of Water Security Act would require a huge amount, Hemochandra said.

Sericulture Minister Go-vindas Konthoujam said that Manipur Sericulture Project Phase-I ended in failure because of lapses in the moni- toring mechanism and indolence.

Nonetheless, there is a decline in the volume of silk imported from foreign countries and this is possible because of the State's contribution in the country's silk production.

Most of the lapses were plugged in as the second phase was initiated.

Funds sanctioned under GIS would be monitored.

It is estimated that Manipur would be able to produce 60.59 metric tonnes of silk this year, Govindas said.

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Francis Ngajokpa informed that the State's share of MGNREGS has been reduced after the Government of India slashed dramatically the amount of funds released for the scheme.

Tribal Affairs and Hills Minister Gaikhangam lamented that the budgetary allocation for the department is too small even though the department has immense roles for economic alleviation of the State's underprivileged sections.

Even if the budgetary allocation was small, the little amount available with the department was utilized properly and the results are encouraging.

Certain family oriented schemes are the backbone of the department, Gaikhangam stated.

CAF&PD Minister M Okendro said that the labourers on strike were first engaged by DK Enterprises.

Their contract period has expired and now they do not have any connection with the Government.

As agreed between the transport agency and the labourers, they were paid 76 paise for loading/unloading one quintal.

Even though the labourers are not related with the Government, they would be given wages at the current market rate, Okendro assured.

The total storage capacity of CAF&PD godowns is 32,000 metric tonnes and there is a stock of 15000 metric tonnes at present.

Coupled with the sub-standard transport infrastructure, due process for upgrading Lamding-Badalpur railway line to broad gauge has been initiated.

As such, transportation of rice by train up to Jiribam is likely to be suspended for sometime, Okendro said.

In accordance to a new policy of the Government of India, FCI has been relieved off the duty of procuring and transhipping sugar.

Instead, the State Government has started transhipping sugar at the cost of Rs 6,65,53,250 after every three months.

Sugar would be made available to public at Rs 20 per Kg.

The demand discussion was also participated by Th Shyamkumar, Kh Joykisan, L Ibomcha, Th Bishwajit and Dr I Ibohalbi.

Later, the House passed all the seven demands.

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