By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Several issues ranging from fiscal deficit, water and power supply, underdevelopment to healthcare came up for discussion in the Assembly on Wednesday, the penultimate day of the budget session.
Congress MLA George Lyngdoh expressed concern over the increase in fiscal deficit to 3.65 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product.
Lyngdoh said the “unprecedented jump is worrying for all of us” and uncontrolled spending “will drown the state in debt”. He urged the government to ensure that the fiscal deficit is contained within 3 per cent.
The MLA also pointed out that both the government and the governor’s speech were silent on the Rs 100-crore penalty imposed by the National Green Tribunal and sought information whether resources will be mobilised to pay the amount.
Congress MLA Mayralborn Syiem raised multiple issues and urged the government to resolve those.
He hoped that the proposed trauma centres in Tura and Nongpoh “will see the light of day”.
Syiem said the location of weighbridges at Shangbangla is not suitable as it is next to NH 6 and it causes congestion.
Talking about pineapple cultivation in ri Bhoi, Syiem said there are no proper storage and food processing units in the district and the government should launch a mission for pineapple.
On the acute crisis of power, Syiem said there are villages in which power connection cut-off, the MeECL pay 40 per cent and get connection. This has to be relaxed to 10-20 per cent to get back power connectivity.
He said no mention of western bypass was made as it will ease traffic congestion in the state.
Congress MLA Mohendro Rapsang spoke about water problem in which dirty water flows instead of the clear and suggested that feeder to the main tank to be removed or replaced by good feeder tanks.
He said the hawkers’ issue is also a problem in Motphran and Police Bazaar. He added the Langpih and Harijan Colony issue taken up seriously.
Congress MLA Azad Zaman urged the chief minister to set up full-fledged CMO in Tura.
Another Congress MLA, Himalaya Shangpliang, lauded the chief minister for having issued directions to get the wooden bridge replaced by RCC bridge. The wooden bridge was burnt down by miscreants recently.
He said the roads in the border areas should be improved.
Speaking about the problems in the education sector, Shangpliang noted that there is shortage of teachers in government schools and no vice-principals. “The posts of DSEOs and deputy director need to be filled. LP and UP schools require repairs, lots of teachers that need to be regularized,” he added.
EMRI workers are on strike as they demand legal rights and statutory benefits and the government should look into their problems, Shangpliang said. “Garo and Hajong do not know how to weave their dakmanda and lungi and requested the textile department to send few weavers to give training to the women folks,” he added.
Congress MLA PT Sawkmie wanted to know about the rehabilitation scheme for surrendered people. As for the Ksan mining tragedy, he wanted to know the expenditure incurred.
He also spoke about teachers barred from politics and want to know about the final decision.
Referring to the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis, he said the CM should take advantage of the situation since the chairman of Safai Karamcharis said the settlers of Harijan Colony should shift to government quarters.
Speaking about water problems, Sawkmie urged the government to look into the Mawiong Umjapung water supply scheme.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Saleng Sangma criticised the previous government on the Harijan Colony issue and said it should not have allowed the people to build institutions sanctioned by the Punjab government.
KHNAM MLA Adelbert Nongrum spoke about influx saying indigenous people are lagging behind in trade and commerce. He urged the state government to come up with a strong law to protect people and the future generation.
Stating that the Citizenship Amendment Bill is a threat, he said the BJP threaten to bring back the Bill if they come back to power.
Taking exception to the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma who said that Nongrum was emotion, Nongrum said he is emotional because he is seriously concern about the matter and asked if it is a sin to be protect the minority community.