IMPHAL, Jul 27: The doctors serving under the state government would be placed as cadres of Manipur Health Services (MHS) in view of streamlining of the transfer and posting policy of the doctors for providing better healthcare services throughout the state, said health minister Ph. Parijat while replying to a query raised by MLA Dr. Kh. Ratankumar regarding the deficiency of doctors at Mayang Imphal PHC during the question and answer hour of the Assembly session held today.

The health minister further stated that at present there are some irregularities in the transfer and posting system of the state doctors and owing to the formation of MGEL for state employees the doctors are facing problems during transfer and posting. So as to overcome such difficulties the state government has decided to place the doctors as cadres of MHS like in the case of MCS or MPS who have not been included in the MGEL, he noted.

Parijat also said that various PHCs in different parts of the state including the Mayang Imphal PHC have been chosen for the implementation of 24x7 Target Programme under NHRM.

Replying to another question raised by MLA, E. Suraj, the health minister stated that the Brahmapur Sangaipat PHC would be completed soon and four ANMs have also been appointed for the said PHC.

With regard to a query raised by MLA I. Hemochandra on the development of some tourist centres in the state, tourism minister TN Haokip stated that tourist destinations and tourist circuits have been developed during the last two years by the tourism department.

During 2008-09 integrated tourist destination has been developed at Jiribam and tourist circuits have been developed for Imphal-Luwangsangbam-Sekmai-Henbung-Senapati-Mao circuit, Imphal-Bishnupur-Churachandpur circuit, Imphal-Thoubal-Pallel-Tengnoupal-Moreh circuit and Imphal-Mahadev-Finch Corner-Hundung-Jessami circuit, the tourism minister said.

TN Haokip also stated that during 2009-10 six tourist destinations, namely Adventure Complex at Lamdan, Ishingthingbi Lake at Heirok, Marjing Polo Club at Heingang, Khongjom War Memorial at Khongjom, integrated tourist destination at Tupul and tourist destination at Sipuikon have also been developed.

Besides such development, the state tourism department is also planning to acquire mega projects for the development of Kaina and Moirang INA Complex. The detailed project reports (DPRs) for these tourist destinations and circuits have been framed as per the decision of the consultative committee consisting of commissioner, director, engineers, architects of tourism department.

Regarding a query raised by MLA, Th. Shyamkumar on daily demand and supply of electric power in the state, the power minister stated that the daily demand for power during peak load is about 170 megawatt and about 100 megawatt during off peak. However, the daily supply of power is only about 80 megawatt during peak load and 45 megawatt during off peak.
Answering another question from MLA Shyamkumar, the power minister stated that there are 1,89,890 registered power consumers in the state.

As a supplementary question, Shyamkumar enquired about the state’s share in the Loktak Project.

Answering the supplementary question, power minister said that the Loktak Project is capable of generating about 27 megawatt power out of which 30 percent is the state’s share.

To another question raised by MLA, N. Mangi regarding the project cost of Leimakhong Heavy Fuel Power Project and its present operational status, the power minister Phunzathang stated that the total cost of the project is Rs. 125.38 crores and at present it functions only as stand by power generator and it cannot meet the power demands of the state.

Further, raising a supplementary question with regard to the inefficiency of this project, MLA Mangi termed the Leimakhong Heavy Fuel Power Project which was inaugurated by President APJ Abdul Kalam in 2002 as a “sleeping lion” incapable of performing anything.

Clarifying on the efficiency of the project, Phunzathang stated that high cost of furnace oil is a major setback of this project but it usually functions at the time of HSLC and HSSLC examinations and even during the FIFA World Cup so as to backup the normal power supply of the state.

In another question raised by MLA, Dr. H. Borajao regarding the scheduled caste villages in the state, TD minister DD Thaisii stated that there is no constitutionally recognized scheduled caste village in the state and as per the Census of 2001 there are 60,00,037 scheduled caste people in the state which are mainly concentrated in the areas of Andro, Phayeng, Kakching, Sekmai, Kwatha and Leimaram, he noted.

As to the question raised by MLA Dr. I. Ibohanbi regarding the river policy, forests and environment minister Th. Debendra stated that there is no river or rivulet policy in the state.

Answering to the query raised by MLA Ng. Bijoy regarding the Nongmaiching Mole Hill, revenue minister Debendra maintained that Nongmaiching is a mole hill which means that it is a hill in the valley region which is connected with any other hill range. As for the inclusion of Nongmaiching Karong Makha Village in Mao and Sadar Hills sub-division, the minister clarified that according to MLR and LR Act, 1960 Section 2 (j), the chief commissioner of Manipur in his order no. 181/2/61-M dated 25/01/1962, the Nongmaiching was included in the Sadar hills sub-division for administrative reasons.

During the zero hour, MLA Salam Joy stated that the manner in which the questions are placed before the House is quite unsatisfactory and so the House needs to regulate this.

In today’s question and answer hour, Salam Joy could not raise his starred question no. 544 regarding the Mayai Lambi HT Transmission Line in the House as the session concluded just before his starred question.