IMPHAL, June 19: The State Public Health Engineering Minister Irengbam Hemochandra remained silent to questions placed by two opposition MLAs during today’s sitting of the ongoing Manipur Legislative Assembly session today on the “Sewerage Project” during discussion on Demands for Public Health Engineering Department.

During the general discussion of the Budget today, moving a Motion for Disapproval of Policy Cut, Thongju MLA Th Biswajit Singh asked the estimate cost on the Detailed Project Report of the ongoing work of Sewerage Project taken up in Imphal city and how much amount is still needed from the original DPR and if it is still lacking than why is it is being left like that.

He continued that the construction of the Administrative Block of the project taken up inside the Khuyathong Public Works Department campus looked to be only about 40 percent complete.

Moving a similar Cut Motion on the same demand,  Thangmeiband MLA Kh Joykishan Singh also requested for a completion date for the sewerage project while asking if works are taken up in a sluggish manner.

Public Health Engineering Minister I Hemochandra provided clarification to all questions and observation raised during the discussion for the Demand of the department, however the Minister failed to provide any answers to the questions raised on the Sewerage project by the MLAs.

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IMPHAL, June 19: Students and teachers of Ramlal Paul Higher Secondary School today held a meeting along with representatives of several students’ unions of the state and the All Manipur Students’ Parents’ Guardian Organization decrying the recent decision of the government to convert the school into a girls higher secondary school to accommodate students who cannot gain admission in TG Girls’ Higher Secondary School.

The meeting was held at the Ramlal Paul Higher Secondary School.

Speaking at the meeting, the All Manipur Students’ Parents’ Guardian Organization secretary S Sumati said that the system of the government for turning the Ramlal Paul Higher Secondary School into an all-girls school is inappropriate and both the students and the teachers are dissatisfied with the government decision.

The students, teachers and all concerned would have been happy if the government had decided to improve the school, but instead, the government has decided to change the school into a girls’ school by transferring the students of the school to another school, which is highly condemnable, she said.

She further condemned the government for taking a decision without any second thought, and continued that the government acts only after an issue arises and tries only to solve the issue for a short term and escape from the situation.

Speaking to media persons, a member of a student`s union said the government should cancel the decision of converting the school into an all girls’ school or the government should convert it into a co-educational higher secondary school.

He said the transferring of the students should not happen as they will find difficulties to cope up with the other students’ because the academic session has already started.

Teachers, students, founder members, the school Principal and former Principal of the school also participated in the meeting.

The Ramlal Paul Higher Secondary School Students’ Union has in a press release said that the meeting attended by the members of the All Manipur Guardian Association, leaders of its students’ unions, ex-teachers, ex-students, local clubs etc and made resolutions unanimously to oppose the government’s proposal, to make Ramlal Paul Hr Sec School an extension campus for TG Hr Sec School; to request the government of Manipur to revoke the order regarding Ramlal Paul school; to protect and uphold the tradition and culture of Ramlal Paul school; to urge the government of Manipur to give a chance to the school management committee for improvement while asking the government to make an effort for development; to urge government of Manipur to upgrade Ramlal Paul school as a model school; to constitute school management committee (SMC) comprising of ex-teachers, local clubs, ex students etc; to urge the government to look into the grievances of students reading in class VI-X which is a very important period in students’ life; to organise a mass movement for its protection.

The press release has also enclosed a statement from the family of the school founders singed by Krishnadas Paul and Gopinath Paul, the  grandsons of the founder Damudar Paul and Chourajit Paul mentioning it history of the school which was founded in the year 1933 as a boys school.

It further said that the signatories appreciated the government plan and attention to develop the school but it was not acceptable  to transform a boys’ school to a girl`s only school  as the move is against the spirit and wishes of the school founders and those teachers who have sacrificed all their life for the school.

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IMPHAL, June 19: The House has passed a total of Rs 959,91,91,000 for five separate demands on the eight day of the 5th session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly today.

The demands passed by the House today were tabled by the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi who is also the leader of the House and holds the Finance portfolio on the floor of the House for its members to discuss and pass the demands.

The demands passed are Demand No 11 for medical health and family welfare a total of Rs 378,31,57,000; Demand no 13 for Labour and Employment a total of Rs 14,84,50,000; Demand No 19 for environment and forest, Rs 173,10,19,000; Demand no 20 for Community Development and ANP, IRDP and NREP a total of Rs. 212,05,44,000 and Demand no 22 for Public Health Engineering a total of Rs 181,60,21,000.

When the demands were tabled for discussion, five MLAs L Ibomcha Singh, Dr I Ibohanbi Singh, Th Shyamkumar, P Brojen and Samnel Rison raised the Motion for Disapproval of policy Cut on Medical, Health and Family Welfare Services.

The cut motion raised was on non-availability of ambulance in the remote area, lack of proper transfer and posting policy for medical officers, failure to provide uniform health facility to the people in hill and valley areas of the state and non installation of IT technology and diagnosis in hills hospitals.

When demand No. 13 for labour and employment was being discussed, MLA Samuel Rison moved the Motion for Disapproval of Policy Cut on non- construction of night shelters for workers and hills.

During the discussion on Demand No 19 for environment and forest, MLAs Dr I Ibohalbi Singh, Th Shyamkumar, Kh Joykishan Singh, P Brojen Singh and Samuel Rison raised the Motion for Disapproval of Policy Cut.

The cut motion raised by MLAs was on failure to protect reserved forest areas, lack of afforestation programs in the department, non-systematic collection of revenue in the department and lack of adequate supply of LPG natural gas in hill districts for commercial and domestic use.

When Demand no 20 for community development and ANP, IRDP and NREP was under discussion, MLA Dr I Ibohanbi Singh moved the Motion for Disapproval of Policy Cut on failure to provide 100 days work to the job card holders under MGNREGS.

During the discussion on Demand no 22 for public health engineering, MLAs L Ibomcha Singh, Th Shyamkumar, RK Imo Singh, Th Biswajit Singh, Kh Joykishan Singh and Samuel Rison moved the Motion for Disapproval of Policy Cut.

The cut motion moved by the MLAs concerns non-supply of drinking water in urban areas, non-harvesting preservation of rain water, non-systematic collection of revenue, failure to provide proper maintenance, non-availability of drinking water supply in certain areas in Imphal, lack of proper maintenance of water supply schemes, improper management of drinking water supply to the general and non completion of water supply schemes/projects in time.

However, following the detailed clarifications by the concerned Ministers regarding the cut motions raised by members of the House and the observations made by Ruling MLA L Nandakumar Singh and Dr Ng Bijoy Singh, the cut motions were withdrawn.

The House passed a total of Rs. 959, 91, 91, 000 for five demands tabled in the House.

It may be mentioned that with the five demands passed today the total number of demands passed in the ongoing full budget session has reached a total of 25.

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IMPHAL, June 19: The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System in Manipur Students’ wing has criticized the reaffirmation stand taken up at the Manipur State Legislative Assembly to urge the Centre to reintroduce ILP in the state.      

Speaking to the media at a press meet held today at the DESAM office at Keishampat Junction,  the convener of the students’ wing of the joint committee Moirangthem Angamba said that the students’ wing has no trust in the state government.

Last year on July 13, a private member resolution was passed to urge the Centre to reintroduce Inner Line Permit in the state however nothing was done in this one year period, he said.

The state government has failed to turn the things which they have assured to the people of the state into action and has remained silent during this entire one year period, the student representative said.      

He further said that ILP cannot be reintroduced in the state unless the state government approaches the Centre with a true heart and dedication to work for it, he maintained.

The awareness programs conducted at various schools and colleges in the state in favour of reintroduction of ILP in the state organized by the students’ wing of the committee will continue, he said while condemning the Chief Minister for standing against it.  

He said that today, a team of students’ wing took a  visit at the Industrial Training Institute at Takyelpat and found eight non-Manipuris trying to fill up forms for admission to the institute without proper identification proof.

He urged all the concerned officials not to allow admission into their respective institutes without properly verifying the candidates.

He appealed to all the concerned district officers and District Transport Officers’ not to issue driving license or domicile or residential certificates to non-locals without proper verification saying that they have come across several fake documents provided by the concerned authority.

He also appealed to the Imphal Municipal Council to check the growing number of unauthorized non-local hawkers and to take appropriate action against them.

The press meet was attended by representatives of All Manipur Student’s Union, Apunba Ireipak Maheiroi Sinpanglup, Kangleipak Students’ Association (KSA), Students’ Union Kangleipak (SUK), All Manipur Muslim Students’ Organization and Democratic Students Alliance Manipur.   

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IMPHAL, June 19: The PDS items are not being distributed properly to the people of the state and the system is in a  bad state for the Wabagai Keirak Khongnang Leikai said B Prem Sharma, Advocate at a press conference today.

Further, he said the people living in the village area are suffering more to get the PDS items which the government is not looking into properly. The government policies are violating by the agents and lead to price hike and irregularities in distributing PDS items to the public, he maintained.

He further said the people should be aware and lodge complaints to the government about the improper distribution of PDS items.

Speaking to media persons P Thambalmani of Wabagai Keirak Khongnang Leirak who holds a BPL card said the agent of her local was refusing to give her the exact allotment of rice even as other people have got the due amount.

She further said the PDS items of rice was not distributed to the locals for the earlier month and for this month the agent distributed only 12 Kg of rice.

The agent has to distribute 35 Kg to each BPL card holder but instead, one gets only 15 Kg at the most, she said.

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IMPHAL, June 19: Keeping in mind the increasing number of people who needs kidney and cornea transplants and also for the convenience of the donors and the receivers, the ruling party MLA Dr Ng Bijoy Singh observed the need to amend the human organ transplant Act, 1994 in Manipur, during the Assembly sitting today.

The ruling MLA gave his observation during the discussion of demands for grants of Demand No 11-Medical, Heath & Family Welfare Department in Manipur Legislative Assembly today.  

The MLA said that the human organ transplant act, 1994 was passed in the Indian Parliament in 1994. The then President of India gave his assent and it was adopted on March 25, 1999 in the Parliament, he said.  

According to this act, there is provision that the donor should be a near relative of the receiver and the blood group also should be of the same group. However, the said act was amended in 2011 relaxing some of the provisions in regard to organ donation and transplant, the MLA maintained.

Lok Sabha gave its approval for the amendment of the Act on August 12, 2011 and Rajya Sabha on August 26, 2011, the MLA said.

The ruling MLA also mentioned that he has submitted a memorandum to the Director, Health Services on April 28, 2012 to adopt the said act in Manipur considering the number of people who needs organ transplant.

The MLA drew the attention of the members in the House to implement the said act.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Phungzathang Tonsing responding to the MLA’s observation said that it would not be an easy task however considering its importance the matter will be tabled in the state cabinet after a discussion with the law department.      

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IMPHAL, June 19: Opposition leader Dr I Ibohalbi Singh today observed in the House that the continued imposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers’ Act in the state has contributing to destroying forests in the state.

The MLA was speaking during a discussion of Demand for Grants, 2013-14 a total amount of Rs 173,10,19,000 of Demand No 19 for Environment and Forest, tabled by the state Chief Minister Okram today during the 8th day of the 5th session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly.

Participating in the Budget discussion, the MLA asked what is the area covered by Moderate Forest and Open Forest in the state on top of the 730 sq km of Reserved Forest in Manipur.

At the present rate, Manipur will turn into a desert in another 50 years, he observed.

He continued that everyone says that people in the hills cut the trees, however they are not cutting the tree not because they want to, but to find a livelihood.

Observing that if the people in the hills are to be asked to stop cutting down of trees, livelihood security measures and schemes should be implemented first, the MLA asked who is responsible for taking up of such schemes and measures.

He also asked the total area under jhumming cultivation and further added that there is also a need to check whether their socio-economic conditions have improved or not.

Further continuing the discussion on Environment and Forest, the MLA continued that that during the discussion on demands for Police during the ongoing Assembly session earlier, the state Deputy Chief Minister who also holds the Home portfolio had said that Assam Rifles and the Army are being utilized in the hill areas.

He had said that this is because of the imposition of the AFSPA in Manipur.

MLA Dr I Ibohalbi had further continued that the Assam Rifles and Army deployed in the hill district continually cut down trees and clear forests by burning down the trees so as to make it suitable for their dwelling.

Participating during the general discussion on Demands for Grants of Demand No 22 for Public Health Engineering also, the MLA asked if there is a water budget in the state.

He said that the government of India is trying to pass a Food Security Bill, however for humans, food can be replaced though there is no replacement for water.

There is no policy to re-use the water used and there is no Wetland Protection Scheme in Manipur, he said.

He continued that due to the failure to preserve the water bodies, several lakes are today drying up and this has resulted in decrease in ground water level.

He further drew the attention of the concerned Ministers to preserve the water bodies and forests in the state.

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IMPHAL, June 19: Replying to a question put by MLA L Nandakumar during the questions and answers session, Kh Ratankumar said that the parking charge for a two wheeler is Rs 5 per hour while the parking charge for a four wheeler is Rs 10/hr.

The maximum parking charge for a two wheeler is Rs. 100 and the maximum parking charge for a four wheeler is Rs 200, he said.

The Minister continued that the permission to look after the public parking lots in the major areas of the Imphal area is enforced by the Imphal Municipal Council under the decision of the traffic regulation and parking committee (Imphal West/Imphal East).

Transport Minister, Kh Ratankumar Singh said that both sides of the RIMS road, Thangal Bazaar, MG Avenue, Khoyathong and Paona bazar roads are not designated parking areas but one way traffic roads.

Meanwhile, replying to the question put by Dr. Ibohanbi, IFCD Minister, Ngamthang Haokip said that the cost of Thoubal Multipurpose project in 1977 is Rs 87.25 crores while the cost is Rs 1387.85 crores in 2011.

As per environment and forest letter in 2005 and environment impact assessment notification, 1994, there is no provision for giving environment clearance of the project which is being taken up, he added.

Responding to a question put by MLA Th Shyamkumar, IFDC Minister, Ngamthang Haokip said that Rs 8762.22 lakhs were sanctioned from the beginning of the digging of Thoubal Barrage main canal to the financial year, 2012-13.

The canal with a length of 9 to 12 kms is set to be finished in July 2013, he said.

Answering the question raised by MLA Brojen, IFCD Minister, Ngamthang Haokip pointed out that compensation for river bank areas affected by the Langathel river project has not been paid off as the land acquisition process takes time.

Raising the Calling Attention Motion on the alternative arrangement for street vendors in the vicinity of Uripok and Nagamapal, Dr Ibohanbi drew the attention of the concerned Minister.

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IMPHAL, June 19: Police personnel including traffic police personnel should not drive off street vendors and dismantle their wares. This is their means of livelihood to support their families and send their wards to educational institutes. This was stated by opposition leader, MLA Dr. I Ibohalbi Singh raising a calling attention motion on “non-arrangement of proper places for street vendors in and around Uripok – Nagamapal in Manipur Legislative Assembly.

He further said it seems that the Government does not have a policy for street vendors of the state including those in the vicinity of Khwairamband Keithel, Imphal and called on the state government to implement the National Policy on street vendors – 2009 in toto.

The Manipur government made efforts that the construction of three new markets was completed but the card holders occupied the vending space in the three markets, he said. So appealing to the government to provide the vending space to the street vendors and their rights, he pointed out that police personnel including traffic police drove them off and kicked out their wares. Against this backdrop, an appeal was made to the concerned police officers in consultation with Commerce and Industries Minister Govindas Konthoujam but it seems useless, he said. It is learnt that a new market will be constructed in the Tombisana High School compound opposite old Assembly Secretariat, he noted and appealed to arrange the temporary vending space for street vendors before the construction of the market is completed.

Stating that the street vendors are facing lot of difficulties during rain and in the heat of the day at the vending areas provided at Lamphel as there are no roofed sheds over there, he further appealed to roof the vending areas with GCI sheet temporarily over there or make arrangements for them to vend their wares at the parking area on the northern side of market sheds at the area where the old district hospital was located.

Stating that if temporary arrangements are found difficult to be implemented, he tendered his appeal to the Chief Minister to give street vendors the time from 5 a.m. to 8/9 a.m. to vend their wares.

Replying to the calling attention motion, the leader of the House who is also in charge of MAHUD said that the government is planning to use the basements of the three markets as space for public parking. On the other hand, buyers should come to the area where the wares are sold, he pointed out and added that he will look into what can be done for them with a neutral body for street vendors being constituted. He assured on the floor of the House that efforts will be made to take up works to roof the vending area at Lamphel with GCI sheets.

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 IMPHAL, June 19: The quantum of punishment for the four convicts in the U-Morok traders gang rape case which was supposed to be announced today has been rescheduled on June 25 after a counsel of a convict failed to turn up at the District and Sessions Court Manipur West today.

Speaking to the media persons outside the court complex, Special Public Prosecutor Ng Tejkumar said that the quantum of punishment was not announced today as the counsel of Ksh Kennedy failed to turn up at the court for the sentence hearing of the gang rape case.

The judge has announced June 25 as the day to announce the quantum of punishment to the four convicts, he said.  

He maintained that from his side he has prayed to the Judge to award maximum punishment to all the four convicts under the section of Indian Penal Code.

It may be mentioned here that the four were pronounced guilty by the District and Sessions Court, Manipur West on June 12 in the gang rape case of the U-Morok trader.

The main accused Lukhram Rojit (25), son of L Tomba of Porompat JNIMS Road has been convicted under 367, 376, 392 Indian Panel Code and 25 Arms Act and the three other accused Havaldar (1st IRB) Chungkham Ibomcha alias Eigya (37), son of Shamu of Thongju Boroi Makhong; Rifleman (1st IRB) Ksh Kennedy (37), son of Achou of Kongpal Chanam Leikai and Salam Bijen (34), son of Gourababu of Uripok Sorbon Thingel have been convicted under 367, 376, 392 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 34 of Common Intention.

It may be also mentioned that the 42 year old woman from Khupan Lungli village in Tamenglong district was  gang-raped by the four persons on the intervening night of March 21 and 22 near Kakyai Primary School in Irom Meijrao.

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