Imphal: On the seventh day of the 2nd part of the ensuing 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly session, the House unanimously passed seven demands for grants amounting to Rupees 37,616,329,000.
The demands for grants are (i) Demand No. 22 : Public Health Engineering (ii) Demand No. 26 : Administration of Justice (iii) Demand No. 34: Rehabilitation (iv) Demand No. 36: Minor Irrigation (v) Demand No. 37: Fisheries (vi) Demand No. 41: Art & Culture and (vii) Demand No. 44: Social Welfare.
For Demand No. 22 : Public Health Engineering a sum of Rs 2223,44,81,000 (ii) Demand No. 26 : Administration of Justice a sum of Rs 143,57,35,000 (iii) Demand No. 34: Rehabilitation a sum of Rs 7,38,66,000 (iv) Demand No. 36: Minor Irrigation a sum of Rs 302,76,41,000 (v) Demand No. 37: Fisheries a sum of Rs 62,55,00,000 (vi) Demand No. 41: Art & Culture a sum of Rs 53,71,49,000 and (vii) Demand No. 44: Social Welfare a sum of Rs 968,19,57,000 have been granted and passed in the House for the financial year ending March 31, 2024.
During the discussion on demands for grants, MLAs K.Meghachandra, Th. Lokeshwar Singh and Surjakumar Okram moved cut motions on demands no 22, 36,37,41 and 44 which were later withdrawn and passed in the House. MLAs Sapam Nishikant and M.Rameshwar also joined in the demand discussion and expressed their observations and suggestions on the demands of PHED and Art & Culture.
Replying to a cut motion by the MLAs, Leader of the House N. Biren Singh informed that for progressive functioning of the Minor Irrigation Department, the coordination between MI, CADA and the Water Resources department is required. There are 217 RLIs out of which around 132 are functioning at present. The non-functioning RLIs will be made functional after proper examination. Digging of bore wells under the PMKSY is going on. Proposal for the construction of a check dam in the foothills has been submitted to the concerned Ministry, he added.
Regarding Art & Culture, N. Biren informed the House that Art & Culture which is also the identity of the state is our pride. 38.81 hectares of land has been procured in Imphal East for the construction of Manipur Cultural University. Rupees 4,97,85,500 (four crore, ninety-seven lakh, eighty five thousand five hundred) has been paid as cost for purchasing the land. Recruitment for staff for the university has been started.
The Leader of the House further stated that during the G-20 summit in Manipur, the visiting delegates were quite impressed by the rich culture of the state.
Film is not declared as an industry in Manipur but the government is making efforts to develop it, recognizing the popularity of Manipuri films. The government is planning to open offices of Art & Culture at the sub divisional levels. He also mentioned that the Rani Gaidinliu memorial site will be constructed at Nungkao. There are 122 registered cultural organizations in the state, he informed.
During the demand discussion of the Public Health Engineering Department, the Minister-in-charge of the department, L.Susindro Meitei said that the department is regularly checking the quality of drinking water. An individual requires 135 liters per day in urban areas, 70 liters per day in town areas and 55 liters per day in rural areas as assessed by the department. The Government is planning to start water treatment at Lamphel lake. Minister also stated that a law will be prepared for the regulation of private water suppliers in the next assembly session.
Fishery & Social Welfare Minister Heikham Dingo Singh during the demand discussion informed the House that the production of fish has increased during the past few years in the state. The production of fish last year had reached 45MT against 38MT in the previous year. During the fish festival of Ningol Chakouba 2022, 1.28lakh kg of fish could be sold generating an amount of Rs 3.33 crore.
Central schemes like PMMSY, RKVY, NFDB etc. have been implemented to develop fisheries in the state. Loktak Livelihood Mission may be mentioned as a scheme launched by the state. Action plan for the year 2022-23 has been submitted. A high power committee has also been constituted to inquire about misappropriation of departmental funds, he informed.
