Govt to ensure transparency in MPSC functioning
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma assured the House on Friday that the state government was committed to ensure transparency and accountability in the functioning of the MPSC. He was replying to a zero hour notice tabled by HSPDP’s Ardent Basaiawmoit on the appointment of chairman and members of the MPSC.
“We need the best people to serve under MPSC and we are also keen to carry out the overall review of recruitment process,” Sangma added.
According to the chief minister, the government aimed at ensuring a tamper-proof recruitment process without fear or favour. The chief minister also assured the House that the government will correct the negative image of the MPSC.
Additional projects to be posted to NEC
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said on Friday that additional project proposals will be posted to the North Eastern Council (NEC) to fulfil various demands.
Replying to a question by UDP’s Jemino Mawthoh, the Chief Minister said in the Assembly on Friday that it was not a fact that some Northeast states were getting more projects than Meghalaya. “It depends on the budgetary allocation for the sanction of schemes by NEC,” he added.
Earlier, raising a question, Mawthoh pointed out that of the 310 proposals submitted to NEC for the last five years, only 50 were retained and out of this, 37 projects were sanctioned. To a supplementary question by UDP’s Paul Lyngdoh on the status of the multi-purpose hall in his constituency, the Chief Minister said this would be a part of the additional project proposals.
Cost inflation resulted in vehicle insurance hike
SHILLONG: Transport Minister HDR Lyngdoh said that due to the increase in the cost inflation index, the concerned authorities had resorted to hike in insurance cost.
In reply to a call attention motion tabled by Ardent Basaiawmoit (HSPDP) regarding the protest of taxi drivers against high insurance cost, Lyngdoh said on Friday that insurance cover in the form of premium rates for Motor Third Liability Insurance for financial year 2016-17 is being introduced only by Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India (IRDAI) whereby it was decided to review the premium rates for third party insurance covers annually and in accordance with the powers vested in IRDA.
The premium rate applicable to the Motor Third Liability Insurance was introduced with effect from April 1 this year for both cars and bikes due to the fact that there is an increase in the Cost Inflation Index (CCI) by 5.57%. “Insurers are not permitted to cancel the current insurance policies and issue fresh policies to effect new premium rates. “This particular matter of insurance falls under the Seventh Schedule Article 246 of the Union List,” Lyngdoh added.
Move to illuminate localities to contain crime
SHILLONG: Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh said in Assembly on Friday that the issue of illumination of various localities will be taken up with MeECL to ensure that isolated places are not used by criminal elements in the wake of spurt in cases of drug abuse and other crimes.
In a written reply to a call attention moved by HSPDP legislator Ardent Basaiawmoit on the rise in crime Upper Shillong area, Lyngdoh said in Assembly that various measures including regular patrolling and better intelligence gathering will be taken up to ensure that various localities in and outskirts of the city are free from crimes including drug abuse.
Govt to release Rs 128 cr to contractors in FY17
SHILLONG: The State Government is yet to release the pending bills of Rs 146.33 crore to contractors who carried out works under the Public Health Engineering Department.
Replying to a question by UDP’s Donkupar Roy, PHE Minister Prestone Tynsong said in the Assembly that the bills to be cleared for works under JNNURM is Rs 7.62 crore and Rs 120 crore under NRWP and NLCPR will be cleared in the current financial year.
The division wise pending bills yet to be paid to contractors are Simsanggere (Rs 8.23 crore), Tura (Rs 4.74 crore), Tura North (Rs 9.09 crore), Ampati (Rs 44.63 crore) Resubelpara (Rs 7.97 crore), Baghmara (Rs 0.59 crore), Nongpoh (Rs 7.19 crore), Umsning (Rs 5.18 crore), S&D division (Rs 1.87 crore), investigation division (Rs 3.31 crore), Hills division (Rs 5.24 crore), Sohra (Rs 2.27 crore), electrical division Shillong (Rs 0.57 crore), electrical division Mawphlang (Rs 3.45 crore), GSWS division number 1 Shillong (Rs 1.24 crore), GSWS division number 2 Mawphlang (Rs 2. 05 crore), electrical division Jowai (Rs 0.48 crore), RWS division Jowai (Rs 5.39 crore), Mairang (Rs 1.83 crore), Nongstoin (Rs 20.17 crore), Mawkyrwat (Rs 7.71 crore) and Superintending Engineer (PHE) Tura circle (Rs 3.18 crore).
The PHE Minister said the amount of fund that will be available with the Department during 2016-17 will be around Rs 154 crore.
