Day-3 of First Session of Sikkim’s Ninth Legislative Assembly

Gangtok, 25 June [IPR]: The third day of the First Session (Part-II) of the Ninth Assembly began with the question hour today.

Minister for UD&HD, NK Subba, while replying to the question raised by a Member of the House during the question hour said that there is an approved and sanctioned project under the UDHD to develop the Old West Point School complex into a multipurpose building with car parking shopping centre and recreation facilities to be executed in the public private partnership mode. The objective of this endeavor is to create world class urban infrastructure in important towns of the state which would give a boost to Tourism industry and also enhance the quality of life of the urban dwellers.

The Ministry for Urban Development as well as the Planning Commission have been encouraging states to take up such projects and these have been conceived and prepared as per the Planning Commission's guidelines. The present proposal is the first major urban infrastructure in the state to be implemented on PPP mode.

The Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, Ugen T Gyatso, while replying to a question said that though the time of completion of the Greenfield Airport at Pakyong was originally fixed for 2011, due to many reasons like rehabilitation of the affected people and the disastrous earthquake that hit the state, completion has been rescheduled for the year 2016.

He further informed that against the original projection of 17 houses being affected by the construction of the airport, the number now stands at 143. The government has already submitted a request for Rs. 13.77 crore as compensation for the 17 damaged houses and is considering the proposal to put up the demand for compensation of all the 143 houses to the Airport Authority of India.

As of now, the construction work has been suspended and the department is working to start the work as soon as possible, he informed.

Next, the Minister for Rural Management & Development Department SB Subedi while replying to the questions raised during the question hour said that in view of the largescale protests, and also to honour the sentiments of the people, the government has decided not to take up the Kabi-Longstok Beautification Project funded by DoNER.

He further stated that as the government has decided not to take up the work, therefore contemplation of the DoNER funds to be utilized in some other projects in the vicinity is not there and further the funds so received shall be surrendered to the Ministry of DoNER.

The Minister for Health Care, Human Services and Family Welfare Department, Arjun Kumar Ghatani while replying to the question raised by a member of the house said that two Community Health Centers and three Primary Health Sub Centers has been increased in the state as compared to the status on 1994. Further, five Primary Health Sub Centers in Rangrang, North Sikkim, Lingzay, North Sikkim, Mangshila, North Sikkim, Mabong Sengeng and Chotta Samdong has been recently approved by the State Government for the construction of additional centers.

He further said that as far as health infrastructure and manpower is concerned the state is far ahead of the National norms as prescribed by the Government of India. The District Hospitals, PHCs and PHSCs cater to far lesser population than the norms prescribed by the Government of India, he added.

Chief Minister Pawan Chamling also the Minister-in-Charge of Home Department introduced the Sikkim Police (Amendment) Bill, Bill No. 9 of 2014 in the House, today.

During the financial business, Minister for Energy & Power and Labour Departments, DD Bhutia presented demands for grants under his departments where after comprehensive discussion the grant was passed by the august house.

During the discussions, MLAs PS Tamang, Timothy William Basnet, Ugen Nedup Bhutia and others raised questions on the revenue generation by the power sector and also raised the question on the free electricity to the poor section of the society and on various issues like installations of new transformers and street lights in various areas in around the capital where are still not illuminated.

The concerned minister answered the questions and queries placed by the MLAs.

Similarly, Minister for Roads and Bridges and Cultural Affairs and Heritage Departments also placed demands for grants under his charge which was passed by the august house after comprehensive discussion.

During the discussion, the Minister, Garjaman Gurung, also informed the house that henceforth, National Highway 31A will be called NH 10 and also replied the questions and queries raised by the MLAs on repairs of existing roads, conditions of various roads around the state as well as around the capital, and also on the pending bills of the contractors.

Similarly, Minister in charge of Human Resource Development, Sports & Youth Affairs, Law, Legislative & Parliamentary Affairs Departments, RB Subba, placed Demands for Grants under his charge. The Demands for grants was put to vote, and were convincingly passed by the House after discussion.

During the discussion, a question was raised as to why teachers regularized under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan were not given similar allowances and benefits enjoyed by other regular teachers. Replying to this query, the HRD Minister clarified that SSA being a centrally sponsored scheme has not kept any provision for reimbursements and other benefits. As such, the State Government can do very little to redress this issue, he stated.

With regard to a query raised by a Member about inadequate financial aid in the form of grant-in-aid to sports and youth associations, and the ensuing difficulties to be faced by these associations after the Government's recent notification to prohibit Government employees from being part of any association or union and its implications on the financial condition of the these bodies, Minister-in-charge of Youth & Sports Affairs Department clarified that the Government has been giving grant-in-aid to several of these organizations, but due to limitations in the Government treasury some of these organizations are invariably left out. He further stated that the Government by issuing the recent notification has not taken a new decision but has revisited an already existing rule which is part of the Sikkim State Service Rules. He added that the working members of these associations should give way to new individuals to take their work forward

Members of the House PS Tamang, Hemendra Adhikari, Dr. Mechung Bhutia, Pintso Chopel Lepcha, Kunga Nima Lepcha, and Gopal Baraily also participated in the discussion.

Similarly, Member of the House and Minister in charge of Urban Development & Housing Department and Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Departments NK Subba placed the Demands for Grands under his charge. The demands for grants was put to discussion and voting after which they were unanimously passed by the House. Members Shyam Pradhan, Hemendra Adhikari, Pintso Chopel Lepcha, Kunga Nima Lepcha, Timothy William Basnet and Gopal Baraily participated in the discussion.