Assembly Questions, Meghalaya Legislative Assembly

MEGHALAYA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

RE-ASSEMBLED BUDGET SESSION

STARRED

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Thursday, the 26^th June, 2003

I.T. Policy

Shri T.H. RANGAD		Dr. MUKUL SANGMA (Minister in-charge, Information Technology)
*68. Will the Minister in-charge, Information Technology be pleased to state whether the I.T. Policy has been framed and adopted?		Sir, the views of concerned Departments on the draft IT Policy have been obtained and the matter in pending for final decision which is expected shortly.

Natural Calamities

Shri BRENING A. SANGMA		Shri H.D.R. LYNGDOH (Minister in-charge, Horticulture)
*69. Will the Minister in-charge, Horticulture be pleased to state:-
(a) Whether the Government is aware that every year large number of fruit bearing trees and destroyed due to various natural calamities?		(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) If so, the details of the loss so incurred during last year, district-wise?		(b) Information is being collected, Sir.
(c) Whether the Government is extending any help to the victims so affected?		(c) Information is being collected, Sir.

Kolkata Meghalaya House

Shri A. CHAUDHURI Shri BRENING A. SANGMA Shri E. K. SANGMA		Shri H.D.R. LYNGDOH (Minister in-charge, G.A.D)
*70. Will the Minister in-charge, G.A.D be pleased to state:-
(a) The present status of the Kolkata Meghalaya House case?		(a) Sir, the case is pending before the Arbitral Tribunal.
(b) The name of the lawyer engaged by the Government of Meghalaya?		(b) Shri Sidharth Shankar Ray.
(c) How much money has been spent by Government till date to contest the case?		(c) Rs.8,79,904/-
(d) How much money has been spent on lawyer's fees?		(d) Rs.20,000/-

B. P. L. Families

Shri CYPRIAN R. SANGMA		Shri J.D. RYMBAI (Minister in-charge, Community & Rural Development)
*71. Will the Minister in-charge, Food and Civil Supplies be pleased to state:-
(a) Whether it is a fact that the re-survey for BPL families in the State is underway?		(a) Yes, Sir. The BPL Survey for the Tenth Plan period is underway.
(b) The targetted time to complete the re-survey?		(b) The targetted time for completing the survey is end of June, 2003, Sir.

Special Grant

Shri BRENING A. SANGMA		Shri H.D.R. LYNGDOH (Minister in-charge, Horticulture)
*72. Will the Minister in-charge, Horticulture be pleased to state:-
(a) Whether the Government is getting any special grant from the Union Government, Financial Institutions or any other organisations for the development of Horticulture in the State?		(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) If so, the details thereof?		(b) Sir, the financial assistance released by different Agencies are as follows.

Year	Name of the Organisation from which grant received.	Name of the Programme	Amount
1. 1982-83 to 2002-03	Tea Board	Financial Assistance for Tea Plantation	Rs.1,40,24,365.00 crores
2. 2001-02	Technology Mission	Financial assistance for development of Horticulture	Rs.6,25,71,000.00 crores
3. 2002-03	Technology Mission	Financial assistance for development of Horticulture.	Rs.7,75,60,000.00 crores
4. 2002-03	N.E.C. Shillong.	Financial assistance for development of Citrus Rejuvenation & Mandarin Orange Plantation	Rs.11,98,000.00 Lakhs
5. 2002-03	N.E.C. Shillong.	Financial assistance for expansion of Turmeric cultivation	Rs.20,15,000.00 Lakhs
6. 2001-02	National Horticulture Board.	Financial assistance for development of Horticulture.	Rs.1,50,000.00 Lakhs.

Vacant Post

Shri ARDHENDU CHAUDHURI	Shri R.G. LYNGDOH (Minister, Home)
*73. Will the Minister in-charge, Home (Police) be pleased to state:-
(a) Whether it is a fact that a number of posts of Deputy Superintendents of Police are lying vacant?	(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) If so, the total number of posts and since when they are lying vacant?	(b) Post Vacant	Years
	6	1990
	4	1997
	4	2000
	3	2001
	7	2002
	1	2003
	______________________
	25 Nos
(c) If reply to (a) above is in the affirmative, the reason for not filling up the posts?	(c) Due to delay in conducting recruitment by the M.P.S.C.

Crowborough Hotel

Shri CYPRIAN R. SANGMA		Shri T.C. LYNGDOH (Minister in-charge, Tourism)
*74. Will the Minister in-charge, Tourism be pleased to state:-
(a) Whether it is a fact that the construction of Crowborough Hotel in Shillong has not been completed?		(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) If so, the reasons thereof?		(b) Due to pending Court case.
(c) What does the department intends to do with the building?		(c) The intention is to make it a 3-Star Hotel.

Illegal Immigrants

Shri T.H. RANGAD		Shri R.G. LYNGDOH (Minister, Home)
*75. Will the Minister in-charge, Home (Police) be pleased to state:-
(a) Whether the anti-infiltration branch of the Government is functioning?		(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) How many illegal immigrants were detected in the year 2002-2003?		(b) The number of illegal immigrants detected was 2537 during the year 2002 and 921 during the year 2003 upto June 16,2003.

I.C.U. Unit

Shri ARDHENDU CHAUDHURI		Shri B.G. MOMIN (Minister in-charge, Health and Family Welfare)
*76. Will the Minister in-charge, Health and Family Welfare be pleased to state:-
(a) When was the I.C.U. unit installed in the Civil Hospital, Shillong.		(a) Sir, the I.C.U. Unit in Civil Hospital, Shillong was intstalled on 29.10.2002.
(b) Whether the I.C.U is functioning?		(b) Yes, Sir.
(c) If not, the reason thereof?		(c) Does not arise in view of (b) above, Sir.
(d) The total amount spent for the purpose including purchase of equipment?		(d) Rs.47,54,534/- Sir.

NABARD

Shri CYPRIAN R. SANGMA		Dr. MUKUL SANGMA [Minister in-charge, P.W.D (Roads)]
*77. Will the Minister in-charge, P.W.D be pleased to state:-
(a) Whether the Government intends to take loan from NABARD for the construction of roads under RIDF in the current financial year?		(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) The total loan taken during the year 2002-2003?		(b) 827.55 (L).

Services Rules

Shri T.H. RANGAD		Shri B.G. MOMIN (Minister in-charge, Health and Family Welfare)
*78. Will the Minister in-charge, Health and Family Welfare be pleased to state whether the Government has finalised the Service Rules for Doctors?		Yes, Sir.

Jhum Cultivation

Shri BRENING A. SANGMA		Shri SING MULIEH (Minister in-charge Forests & Environment)
*79 Will the Minister in-charge Forest, be pleased to state:-
(a) Whether the Government is aware that the forest cover in the State is being reduced every year due to the illegal felling, 'Jhoom' cultivation etc.?		(a) No, Sir.
(b) If so, the steps taken by the Department to control and contain the reduction of the forest cover?		(b) Sir, even thought there is no reduction in the area under Forest according to Survey Reports, the Department is taking effective steps to ensure that Forests are preserved.

Job Reservation

Shri CYPRIAN R. SANGMA Shri P. G. MOMIN		Shri D.D. LAPANG (Chief Minister)
*80. Will the Chief Minister be pleased to state:-
(a) Whether the Government is implementing the Job Reservation Policy in the State?		(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) If so, the break up of the numbers of employees appointed both in Government and Semi Government sectors, community wise?		(b) Information are being collected, Sir.

Civil Hospital

Shri T.H. RANGAD		Dr. MUKUL SANGMA [Minister in-charge, P.W.D (Roads)]
*81. Will the Chief Minister be pleased to state:-
(a) Whether the Over bridge or the Underground near Civil Hospital will be constructed?		(a) & (b). The whole mater is under examination.
(b) If so, when?		(a) & (b). The whole mater is under examination.

Reserved Forest

Shri BRENING A. SANGMA	Shri SING MULIEH (Minister in-charge Forests & Environment)
*82 Will the Minister in-charge Forest, be pleased to state:-
(a) The total area of Reserved forest in the State?	(a) Sir, the total area under Reserved Forest is 712.15 Km²
(b) The net income and expenditure from these forest reserves for the last two years?	(b) Revenue
	2001-02	-	Rs.666.82 lakhs
	2002-03	-	Rs.772.22 lakhs
	Expenditure (Rs. in lakhs)
	Plan		Non-Plam
	2001-02 - Rs.141,77,380 - Rs.762,02,220.
	2002-03 - Rs.148,59,705 - Rs.648,55,435.
	The expenditure figures shown above are the expenditure incurred by the three Territorial Divisions and are not inclusive of expenditure incurred at the Headquarter level.

C.M.C. Vellore

Shri ARDHENDU CHAUDHURI Shri P. G. MOMIN		Shri B.G. MOMIN (Minister in-charge, Health and Family Welfare)
*83 Will the Minister in-charge, Health and Family Welfare be pleased to state:-
(a) The average number of patients referred to C.M.C. Vellore annually for treatment?		(a) Sir, approximately 300 cases annually.
(b) The number of patients referred to C.M.C Vellore during 2002-2003		(b) 303 during 2002-2003. Sir.
(c) Total amount recommended for disbursement as Medical Advance?		(c) Rs.4,99,03,450.00, Sir.
(d) How many cases to travel the journey by air were recommended by D.H.S. during 2002-2003?		(d) 270 during 2002-2003, Sir.

Minor Irrigation

Shri CYPRIAN R. SANGMA		Shri P. T. SAWKMIE (Minister in-charge, Irrigation)
*84. Will the Minister in-charge, Irrigation be pleased to state:-
(a) Whether it is a fact that tender was called for the construction of Minor Irrigation Project at Anderkona?		(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) If the answer to (a) above is in affirmative, whether the construction has been started?		(b) Yes, Sir.

Agricultural Crops

Shri T. H. RANGAD		Shri H.D.R. LYNGDOH (Minister in-charge, Horticulture)
*85. Will the Minister in-charge, Agriculture be pleased to state whether the Government is monitoring the price being paid to the farmers for agricultural Crops?		Sir, the Government in the Agriculture Department through its market intelligence network records the prices at which the agricultural commodities are sold at a few select markets of the State. These wholesale and retail prices of commodities are disseminated for general information.

Traffic Flow

Shri ARDHENDU CHAUDHURI		Shri R.G. LYNGDOH [Minister in-charge, Home (Police)]
*86. Will the Minister in-charge, Home (Police) be pleased to state:-
(a) Whether any specific formula/procedure is being followed for deployment of Police personnel for performing Traffic duty, proportionate to the number of Vehicles plying within and through Shillong?		(a) No, Sir. Deployment of police personnel for performing traffic duty is not in proportionate to the number of vehicles plying in different areas of Shillong City.
(b) If so, the details thereof?		(b) Does not arise in view of reply to (a) above.
(c) If not, whether the present deployment is sufficient to manage the daily increase in traffic flow in and around the capital?		(c) No, Sir.
(d) Whether any review to increase the strength of traffic police, proportionate to the alarming rise in number of vehicles was ever undertaken by the Department?		(d) No review has been taken so far.

Saw Mill

Shri BRENING A. SANGMA		Shri SING MULIEH (Minister in-charge Forests & Environment)
*87. Will the Minister in-charge Forest, be pleased to state:-
(a) Whether the Government is aware that sawing of timber is still continuing in the State even after the Supreme Court ban?		(a) Yes, Sir. There are instances of illegal operation of saw mills in the State despite best efforts put in by the Forest Department to stem all operation.
(b) If so, how many cases are detected so far?		(b) The total cases detected so far is 94.
(c) Whether the Government is allowing any Saw Mill for the State's own requirement?		(c) There are fifteen mills which have been granted licence to operate in the State, including two of Forest Development Corporation of Meghalaya Ltd.
(d) If so, what are the norms and requirement to run such Saw Mills?		(d) The Government has granted licence to those saw/veneer mills which are cleared by the High Power Committee before 15th January 1998 on condition that they should shift to the industrial estate/area and give undertaking to strictly abide by the provision of the Meghalaya Forest Wood Based Industries (Establishment & Regulation) Rules 1998. These Mills are to procure legal timber only which at present with the interim permission granted by the Ministry of Environment & Forests. Those mills are getting timber from the private forest for which permission has been granted by the Autonomous District Council.

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