House clears six demands

Staff Reporter/DIPR
IMPHAL, Feb 11: After several rounds of discussion interspersed with policy cut motions raised by Opposition Members, the State Assembly today passed six demands for grants amounting to Rs 7057,03,47,000.
The demands for grants passed today pertained to CAF&PD (Rs 82,16,82,000), Agriculture (Rs 377,60,72,000), Animal Husbandry & Veterinary including Dairy Farming (Rs 236,49,59,000), Community and Rural Development (Rs 5088,73,71,000), Planning (Rs 890,28,27,000) and Tourism (Rs 381,74,36,000).    
During the discussion of demand for Agriculture, Agriculture Minister O Lukhoi said that even though the implementation of the Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act comes under the Revenue Department, Agriculture Department has also set up a three-tier committee to monitor the current situation of how the agricultural lands can be conserved. So, the department is going hand-in-hand with the Revenue Department to save the diminishing agricultural areas in the larger interest of the public.
On the other hand, MLAs K Ranjit Singh, K Meghachandra Singh, Alfred Kaangam Arthur and Surjakumar Okram raised cut motions during discussion on the demand for grants pertaining to Tourism.
Clarifying to the cut motions, Tourism minister O Lukhoi said that the Khongjom War Memorial Complex has recently become a tourist hotspot.
Acknowledging its potential, the State Government has been developing the site with utmost priority. Necessary features such as better security and fencing will be set up as required.
CAF & PD Minister T Satyabrata while discussing the demand for grants pertaining to Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, clarified that the price levels of goods at Guwahati and Imphal are bound to have some marginal differences due the transportation and other charges involved. However, the Government is trying its best to check unreasonable price rise in the State.
Clarifying to the cut motions raised from the Opposition bench while discussing the demand for grant pertaining to  Community and Rural Development, Th Biswajit said that various vacant posts lying in the department will be filled up at the earliest in order to ensure smooth functioning of the department. Repairing of roads under PMGSY in the innermost areas of the State has been going on with proper vigil. However, due to COVID-19 pandemic and other unseen factors, most of the projects have been delayed.
He added that the incumbent Government is very much concerned about developing necessary modern infrastructures in the remote areas.