Paul slams govt over delay in starting PHC
UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh on Monday came down heavily on the state government for failing to make the Lad Mawreng Primary Health Centre (PHC) near Mawngap in East Khasi Hills District, operational despite the building being completed over two decades back.
“The failure of the state government to comply with the terms and conditions of the agreement signed with the land owner prevented the Health and Family Welfare department to operationalise the PHC whose building was completed about 20 years ago,” Lyngdoh said during the Question Hour in the Assembly.
He further claimed that the land owner had refused to hand over the building since the government had failed to provide a government job to one of the family members in accordance with the terms and conditions of agreement.
The UDP legislator further stated that thousands of people from around eight villages have been badly affected due to the delay in making the PHC operational.
He also recalled that Health and Family Welfare Minister A.L. Hek had assured that the department would present a Christmas gift or a New Year gift to the people by making the PHC functional.
“I would like to know when the people will get their Christmas or New Year gift as assured by the Minister,” Lyngdoh said.
In his reply, Hek stated that the PHC could not be made operational as the building was occupied by the land owner.
“We are trying for a compromise by sorting out the differences. We have also given an offer of providing a job to one of the family members of the land owner if she agrees to hand over the building to the government,” he said.
Revive CGI scheme for BPL families: Roy
Opposition leader Donkupar Roy has urged the state government to revive the scheme of providing CGI sheets to BPL families.
“The scheme had helped a lot of BPL families residing in rural areas to get their own housing units. It will not be a bad option for the government to revive the scheme for the benefit of the poor families,” Roy said while participating in the general discussion on the budget in the Assembly on Monday.
He also stated that the state government should expedite the process for implementation of the new Affordable Housing Scheme to genuine BPL families.
Meanwhile, the Opposition leader expressed his disappointment over the failure of the government to adopt the policy indicated in the Union Budget by setting a target to complete its various initiatives.
He pointed out that the Centre has set a target to provide housing unit to all homeless families by 2022.
“But the budget presented by the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has not set any target to complete its various initiatives,” Roy said.
He observed that the state government should take advantage of this commitment of the central government to ensure that every family in the state had a house to live in.
While stating that the centre was targeting to electrify all the remaining 20,000 villages by 2020, the Opposition leader lamented that the Meghalaya government did not have any target to provide electricity to those villages in the state without power, and asked the government to set a target to complete rural electrification in Meghalaya as envisaged in the union budget.
Legalize illicit liquor trade in State: Roy
Leader of Opposition Donkupar Roy on Monday suggested that illicit liquor produced in the State should be legalized.
According to him, the government was losing huge amount of money by not legalizing the illicit liquor.
“Majority of the people especially in the rural areas who cannot afford to have Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) are dependent on illicit liquor. Taking this fact into consideration, the government is losing huge revenue by not legalizing the illicit liquor produce in the State,” he said while participating in the general discussion on the budget on Monday.
Roy recalled that cabinet minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh had also spoken in favour of legalizing the illicit liquor trade.
“We all know that Sohiong village is the major producer of illicit liquor. Manufacture of country liquor illegally is a thriving vocation in Sohiong and the liquor from there is distributed to many parts of the state,” Roy stated.
It may be recalled that Lyngdoh while favouring legalization of country made liquor had said, “Legalizing country liquor would help make the whole manufacturing process more hygienic and free from dangerous adulteration.”
“Availability of legalized local brew also gives a fillip to the tourism industry as most tourists want to try out such brews like Feni in Goa,” he pointed out.
Lyngdoh had also said that people’s expertise in wine and liquor making needed government patronage and further stated that he would draw the attention of the concerned departments to address the issue.
‘Inability to hold civic polls led to fund cut’
PHE Minister R.C. Laloo on Monday said Rs.17 crore was deducted from the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS) Phase III project under the JNNURM due to the failure of the state government to conform to various reforms recommended by the centre.
“One of the reforms was holding of municipal elections. We had tried to hold the elections but could not do so since there was opposition from the people,” Laloo said during the Question Hour.
He informed that he had held discussions with Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on arranging funds from other sources to complete the project.
The inability of the state government to conduct municipal elections in Meghalaya hit the implementation of the GSWSS Phase III since the union government decided to cut the second installment of fund to the state by 10 per cent.
To a question raised by UDP legislator Embhahlang Syiemlieh on the delay in laying the pipes in localities under Mawlai constituency, Laloo replied that the delay was because one of the contractors had died while another had surrendered the work. Another reason was the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly elections in 2013, Laloo added.
He further informed that two new contractors – Teiborlang Pathaw and D.K. Mawlong – have been awarded the contract, though no money has been released to them.
‘PWD may fund road work in Mairang’
Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh on Monday informed that a request has been sent to the PWD to meet the ten per cent share for the Mairang Town Phase II project under the Urban Scheme for improvement of roads within Mairang town.
“We have made a request to the PWD but are still awaiting response,” Ampareen said while replying to a question raised by UDP legislator Metbah Lyngdoh during the Question Hour.
She also said that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) along with other related documents would have to be resubmitted as indicated by the Union Ministry of Urban Affairs.
The UDP legislator had expressed concern over the delay in getting the Centre’s approval on the project and wondered if the delay was due to the inability of the government to meet the 10 per cent share required for the project in view of the financial crisis.
PHE slammed for not repairing leaked pipes
UDP legislator Embhahlang Syiemlieh on Monday slammed the delay by the PHE department in repairing leaked pipes in various localities under Mawlai constituency.
“Leakages of the pipes have aggravated the problem of water scarcity in Mawlai,” Syiemlieh said during the Question Hour.
In reply, PHE Minister R.C. Laloo said that the delay was due to the fact that the department was engaged in laying pipes for the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS) Phase III.
“The new distribution network will overcome the problem of leakages of pipes,” he added.
Informed that the present water distribution pipes were laid way back in 1970 under the then Assam government, Laloo said, “It is natural that the pipes will leak since it has been 45 years since they were installed.”
Meanwhile, the UDP legislator also expressed disappointment over non-allotment of new roads projects in Mawlai constituency in 2014-2015 despite submitting proposals for several new road projects.
In reply, PWD Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar attributed the non-sanction to paucity of funds.
Paul asks State govt to appoint spokesperson
UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh on Monday questioned the reluctance of government officials to share any kind of information with media persons.
“There have been reports from time to time from the media on the reluctance of officials to share any kind of information with them. Most officers shut their door to media persons who approach them for information,” Lyngdoh said during the Question Hour.
He wanted to know whether the government was open to the idea of appointing a spokesperson to speak on its behalf to inform the public on the activities of the various departments and to give clarifications on various issues that may arise from time to time.
In his reply, Information and Public Relations Minister A.L. Hek said that the government had not appointed any spokesperson.
“The principal secretaries or commissioner secretaries in charge of the specific departments have been entrusted with the job of sharing relevant information with the media,” Hek said.
Hek also assured that the government would give due consideration to the proposal of an official spokesperson.