Meghalaya Legislative Assembly

MEGHALAYA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

BUDGET SESSION

STARRED

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Friday, the 15th April, 2005.

Agricultural Products

Shri A.L. HEK		Shri H.D.R. LYNGDOH (Minister in- charge, Agriculture)
*371. Will the Minister in-charge, Agriculture be pleased to state :-
(a)	The different agricultural products exported outside the State?	(a) Jute, Mesta and Cotton.
(b)	The amount of revenue the State earned from such exported products during the last three years?	(b) Government Department earns no revenue as the products are being sold directly by the farmers to the traders.

Acquisition of land

Shri MANAS CHAUDHURI		Dr. MUKUL SANGMA [Deputy Chief Minister in-charge, Home (Police)]
*372. Will the Minister in-charge, Home Police be pleased to state whether the Department has finalised settlements for acquisition of land for the 3rd and the 4th MLP Battalion?		Sir, acquisition of land for the 3rd Battalion is yet to be finalised. In respect of the 4th Battalion Land Acquisition proceedings have started.

Amount Invested

Shri P.M. SYIEM		Dr. DONKUPAR ROY (Deputy Chief Minister in- charge, Finance)
*373. Will the Minister in-charge, Finance be pleased to state :-
(a)	The amount Government had invested in statutory corporation of Government companies and Co-operative Institution as on 31st March, 2005?	(a) Sir, an amount of Rs.199.94 crores was invested.
(b)	The return on this Investment?	(b) The return on investment is Rs.2.81 crores, Sir.

Electrical Division, Jowai

Shri S. MULIEH		Shri H.D.R. LYNGDOH (Minister in- charge, Public Health Engineering)
*374. Will the Minister in-charge, Public Health Engineering be pleased to state :-
(a)	Whether it is a fact that the Government had proposed to set up the office of the Executive Engineer Electrical Division, Jowai?	(a) & (b). The proposal for creation of an Electrical Division at Jowai is under examination.
(b)	If the answer to (a) above is in the affirmative, the reason for the delay in establishing the office?

Collection of Revenue

Shri T. C. LYNGDOH		Smti. D.C. MARAK (Minister in-charge, Mining & Geology)
*375. Will the Minister in-charge, Mining & Geology be pleased to state the amount of revenue collected during 2003-2004 and 2004-2005?		2003-2004 Rs.86,25,09,004/- 2004-2005 Rs.67,61,63,099/- (April - January).

Debt traps

Shri P.M. SYIEM		Dr. DONKUPAR ROY (Deputy Chief Minister in- charge, Finance)
*376. Will the Minister in-charge, Finance be pleased to state :-
(a)	Whether it is a fact that the State is gradually getting into a debt traps?	(a) No, Sir.
(b)	If so, the mechanism the Government will adopt to control the phenomenon which may endanger debt sustainability?	(b) Does not arise in view of (a) above.

Appointment of L.P. School Teachers

Shri S. MULIEH

Dr. MUKUL SANGMA
(Deputy Chief Minister in-charge, Education)

*377. Will the Minister in-charge, Education be pleased to state the reason for the delay in the appointment of Government L.P. School teachers at Panaliar, Khim-u-sniang, Valabhai Patel Iawmusiang and Lulong Government L.P. Schools, Jowai?

The delay in the appointment of teachers at Panaliar Government L.P. School Khim-u-sniang and Vallabhai Patel Government L.P. Iawmusiang is due to the review and rationalisation of the teacher Pupil Ratio in all Primary Schools in the State whereby it was observed that in the Schools in question the existing number of posts is 12, 10 and 11 and the teacher Pupil Ratio is 1:12, 1:15 and 1:11 respectively.

For the vacant post at Lulong Government L.P. where recommendation was made based on and old interview held 3 years ago, the same was not accepted and application were returned to the D/I with instructions to seek approval for re-advertisement of the post.

Agricultural Graduates

Shri A.L. HEK		Shri H.D.R. LYNGDOH (Minister in- charge, Agriculture)
*378. Will the Minister in-charge, Agriculture be pleased to state the reason why Agricultural graduate (B.Sc. in Agriculture) are not provided with land for mechanize cultivation rather than White-collar jobs which is already saturated?		The purpose of sending the students for B.Sc. (Agri) Courses by the Government is for human resources development, so that after completing their degree courses, they will serve as extension functionaries imparting technical know-how to the farmers. Therefore, the question of providing to them with land for mechanised cultivation by the Government does not arise as the Government does not have sufficient agricultural lands to distribute to so many agricultural graduates. They can do so in their own lands, if available.

Excess Expenditure

Shri P.M. SYIEM		Dr. DONKUPAR ROY (Deputy Chief Minister in- charge, Finance)
*379. Will the Minister in-charge, Finance be pleased to state :-
(a)	Whether it is a fact that there is an excess expenditure in 2003-2004?	(a) Yes, Sir, in respect of Public Debt.
(b)	If so, by how much?	(b) Rs.1103.39 lakhs.

Licenses for Sawmills

Shri S. MULIEH		Dr. MUKUL SANGMA (Deputy Chief Minister in-charge, Forest & Environment)
*380. Will the Minister in-charge, Forest be pleased to state
(a)	The number of licenses for Sawmills cleared by the High Power Committee?	(a) Sir, 74 (seventy four) mills were cleared by the HPC.
(b)	The number of licenses issued till date?	(b) 28 Sir.
(c)	The reasons for the delay in issuing the licenses of the remaining applicants?	(c) the applications were received after the cut off date.

Subsidies provided to Farmers

Shri A.L. HEK	Shri H.D.R. LYNGDOH (Minister in- charge, Agriculture)
*381. Will the Minister in-charge, Agriculture pleased to state the amount of subsidies provided to farmers during the last three years?	Sir, total amount of subsidies provided to the farmers for the last three years (2002-2003, 2003-2004 & 2004-2005) = Rs.6,43,18,665/- (Rupees Six crores forty three lakhs eighteen thousand & six hundred sixty five).
	1) 2002-2003	=	Rs.1,79,53,960/-
	2) 2003-2004	=	Rs.2,44,35,314/-
	3) 2004-2005	=	Rs.2,19,29,391/-
	______________________________________
	Total	=	Rs.6,43,18,665/-

Revenue from Vehicles

Shri T.C. LYNGDOH		Dr. MUKUL SANGMA [Deputy Chief Minister in-charge, Home (Police)]
*382. Will the Minister in-charge, Home Police be pleased to state the amount of revenue collected during 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 from the vehicles which violated the traffic rules?		Sir, the amount of Revenue collected from vehicles which violated the traffic Rules during 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 is as follows :-
		1) 2003-2004 = Rs.33,98,307/- (Rupees Thirty-three lakhs ninety eight thousand three hundred and seven) only.
		2) 2004 upto February 2005 = Rs.30,48,741/- (Rupees Thirty lakhs forty eight thousand seven hundred forty one) only.

Paper Lottery Distributors

Shri S. MULIEH		Shri J.D. RYMBAI (Minister in-charge, Taxation)
*383. Will the Minister in-charge, Taxation be pleased to state:-
(a)	The number of Firms appointed as paper Lottery Distributors?	(a) 5 (five) firms have been appointed as Distributors for Meghalaya State Paper Lottery, Sir.
(b)	The names of the Firms with date of appointment?	(b)	1. M/s. Shree Jalaram Lottery Agency, Mumbai - 2, dated 26.06.2004.
			2. M/s Best & Co., Coimbators. dated 28.06.2004.
			3. M/s J.C. Enterprises, New Delhi. dated 15.10.2004.
			4. M/s Allwyn Agencies, Bangalore. dated 15.10.2004.
			5. M/s N.V. International, New Delhi. dated 23.02.2005.
(c)	The total amount paid so far to the Government?	(c) The total amount of revenue paid so far by the Distributors is Rs.2,13,51,200/- (Rupees Two crores thirteen lakhs fifty one thousand two hundred) only.

Rice Production

Shri A.L. HEK

Shri H. D. R. LYNGDOH
(Minister in- charge, Agriculture)

*384. Will the Minister in-charge, Agriculture be pleased to state the reason why Meghalaya is not yet self sufficient in the production of rice?

The main reason is limited availability of rice cultivation area in the State, this is because of the hilly terrain in the State.

Meghalaya has a geographical area of 22.3 lakhs hectares, of which only 9.87 percent of the area is the net Cropped Area. Rice is grown in about 1.09 lakh hectares which is close to 40% of the Net Cropped Area.

Secondly, the rice growing area falls under different Agro-climate zones of the State, ranging from high hills to low lands. Production and Productivity also differ due to differences in altitude and agro-climatic zones. However, the State Government is vigorously pursuing the introduction of Hybrid Rice in the State which will lead to higher production in future.

Weigh-bridges

Shri T. C. LYNGDOH	Shri J.D. RYMBAI (Minister in-charge, Transport)
*385. Will the Minister in-charge, Mining & Geology be pleased to state the number of weigh-bridges and their locations?	Sir, there are 12 (twelve) weighbridges utilised by different Departments in the State.
	Their locations are as follows:-
	(b)	1. 5 (five) weighbridges are located on NH-44. (Shillong-Silchar Road).
		2. 2 (two) weighbridges are located on NH-40. (G. S. Road).
		3. 1 (one) weighbridges are located on the Sonapahar Athiabari Road.
		4. 4 (four) weighbridges are located on NH-62. (Dainadubi-Nangalbibra Road).
		5. 1(one) weighbridges is located at Gasuapara, South Garo Hills.

Gross Budgeting

Shri P.M. SYIEM		Dr. DONKUPAR ROY (Deputy Chief Minister in- charge, Finance)
*386. Will the Minister in-charge, Finance be pleased to state :-
(a)	Whether it is a fact that the State never adopt principle of gross budgeting?	(a) Yes, Sir.
(b)	If so, the reason thereof?	(b) In preparing the budget, the State Government is guided by the provision of Article 202(2) & (3) of the Constitution of India, as well as the stipulations of the Budget Manual.
(c)	If not, the basis on which the demand for grant for 2003-2004, 2004-2005 were prepared?	(c) The Demand for grants for 2003-04, 2004-05 were prepared on the basis of the estimates submitted by the Administrative Departments which administer the relevant Grant. Such estimates are broadly categorised into two divisions, namely, General Areas and Sixth Scheduled Areas which are again sub-divided under Non-Plan and Plan separately with Classification Accounting Code of 6(Six) Tier and 15(fifteen) digits.

Zoo land

Shri A.L. HEK		Dr. MUKUL SANGMA (Deputy Chief Minister in-charge, Forest & Environment)
*387. Will the Minister in-charge, Forest be pleased to state the position of the Zoo land which had already been acquired?		Sir, 72.74 hectares of land at Umtrew, Ri-Bhoi District has been acquired and the Department has taken possession of the land.

Stolen Vehicles

Shri T.C. LYNGDOH	Dr. MUKUL SANGMA [Deputy Chief Minister in-charge, Home (Police)]
*388. Will the Minister in-charge, Home Police be pleased to state the number of vehicles reported to have been stolen in the State during 2003-2004 and 2004-2005?	Sir, the number of vehicles reported to have been stolen area as follows :-
	Year	No. of Vehicles
	1. 2003	96
	2. 2004	134
	3. 2005 up to February	11
	____________________________
	Total =	241

Borrow Money

Shri P.M. SYIEM		Dr. DONKUPAR ROY (Deputy Chief Minister in- charge, Finance)
*389. Will the Minister in-charge, Finance be pleased to state :-
(a)	In what way the State used the Borrow Money of 2004-05?	(a) Sir, the borrowed money was utilised in implementation of various developmental activities and also for retiring of high interest loans under RIDF.
(b)	The amount of money borrowed and the amount of Interest paid for the borrowed money of 2003-2004 upto March, 2005?	(b) The amount borrowed during 2003-2004 (Actuals) was Rs.16605.49 lakhs and the interest paid during 2004-2005 (RE) is Rs.1003.84 Lakhs.

Setting up of Sawmill

Shri S. MULIEH		Dr. MUKUL SANGMA (Deputy Chief Minister in-charge, Forest & Environment)
*390. Will the Minister in-charge, Forest and Environment be pleased to state:-
(a)	The step taken by the Government for setting up of Sawmill for local consumption?	(a) The Government had taken up the issue of setting up of sawmills for local consumption of timber in the State by filling and affidavit in the Hon'ble Supreme Court.
(b)	If not, the reasons thereof?	(b) Does not arise in view of (a) above.