ITANAGAR, Oct 16: Chief Minister Pema Khandu informed the Assembly that the Central Govt is yet to approve and allocate funds for construction of the greenfield airport in the state capital despite recommendation of the government in favour of the Hollongi site.
Responding to a starred question of former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki on Monday, Khandu informed that the state government has recommended Hollongi as the final site for construction of Green Field Airport at Itanagar on the basis of cabinet decision on May 18 this year.
The state Govt has been pursuing the matter which is lingering for the past 10 years, but has not received any specific inputs from Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, the CM said.
PMAY tendering process: Responding to a starred question raised by Tanga Byaling, R D Minister Alo Libang informed the house that implementation of the PMAY-G scheme has been delayed in the state due to requirement of re-tendering in some of the districts. He further said that the tender process is not politicized and the question of depriving the local genuine contractors does not arise.
However, Byaling, while expressing concern over the delay of PMAY project said Rs 82 crores has already been sanctioned under the project, but even the first installment of fund has not been utilized.
Specialist Doctors: Chief Minister Pema Khandu informed the assembly that there are only 72 Specialist doctors including Directors of TRIHMS, DMS and DFW and therefore the number is not sufficient to cover the one State Hospital and six general hospitals and fourteen district hospitals.
Responding to a questioned raised by former chief minister Nabam Tuki on posting specialist doctor in Community Health Centre at Sagalee, Khandu informed that posts of 134 specialist doctors has already been advertised and would be recruited shortly through APSC. He, however assured to direct the department to post GDMO to Sagalee CHC.
In reply to a supplementary put up by MLA Tanga Byaling on requirement of doctors in all PHCs and CHCs, the chief minister said that government is working on rationalization of health staffs and doctors and assured to review the issue of posting of doctors in all health centres in state.
Yangte hydro project: CM Pema Khandu informed the house that the hydro project under Science and Technology (S&T) department in Yangte circle in Kra Daadi district was implemented during 2013. However, due to shortage of man power in Science and Technology department, the Village Energy Management Committee was constituted and given the responsibility of operation and maintenance of the project.
When Takam Pario who raised questioned regarding functioning of the 3×100 KW Yangte hydro project under S&T department,
the CM further assured to issue instruction to the district administration to take necessary step and place report on the Yangte project for its proper functioning.
Two bills passed
Arunachal Pradesh Assembly has passed the Kameng Professional and Technical University Arunachal Pradesh Bill, 2017 (Amended) and the Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2017 on the third day of the thirteen session of the Assembly on Monday.
Education Minister Honchun Ngandam had placed the bill during the Budget session in March this year. After elaborate discussion on the bill, the house had referred it to a select committee under the chairmanship of Ngandam to re-evaluate certain clauses of the bill. The Select Committee has placed its report on Assembly on Saturday.
The Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill 2017, was passed by voice vote without discussion in the Assembly.
Agriculture Minister Wangki Lowang who tabled the bill on Saturday, gave a details of the necessity of such bill. The Minister said the bill is a practical extension of the principal Act of the Central Govt relating to agriculture and farming.
Resolution on small tea growers adopted
The Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Monday adopted a private member resolution in modified form to ease the suffering of small tea growers of Arunachal Pradesh due to Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and Supreme Court order of 12/12/1996.
Emphasizing the need to do away with the restrictions on registering the small tea growers under Tea Board of India to avail the subsidy and other benefits extended by the Tea Board, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein said that the resolution is significant in terms of doubling- up the tea farmer’s income and getting subsequent benefits. He said that tea cultivation is the most organized sector, while informing that a resolution on the same line was earlier moved in the house in 2005. As almost all cultivable areas in the state are covered under reserved forest, it has become difficult to obtain NoC from Ministry of Environment and Forest, GoI in adherence to Supreme Court order of 12/12/1996. Admitting that there are only 62 registered tea growers, while the major chunk of tea farmers are not registered thereby denying them of the facilities extended by Tea Board of India, the DCM informed the members of the facilities given by the state government to support small tea growers and promotion of tea cultivation in state that includes – allocation of Rs.10 cr each for tea and rubber cultivation in the budget, Rs. 3 lakh loan subsidy to small tea growers.
Earlier, while moving the resolution, Gabriel D Wangsu said that due to very suitable agro-climatic conditions, thousands were taking up tea cultivation especially either on their own or with the help of the state government and more particularly under the Chief Minister’s Mission Mode project in tea and rubber plantation which has brought about significant socio-economic changes.
But the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt of India, through an order in 2000, quoting (Forest Conservation) Act, 1980 and Supreme Court order had directed the Tea Board to issue certificate to the tea growers only after obtaining NOC from MOEF, he said.
The MLA said that the Tea Board through a directive noted that it would issue registration to the tea growers only after they are given clearance by MoEF ensuring that the proposed area of cultivation does not violate Forest Conservation Act, 1980 or Supreme Court order, 1996. It is clear from the directive that production of forest clearance from Union Ministry of Environment & Forest (MoEF) has become mandatory and mere production of NOC issued by the state government shall not be sufficient to get the tea gardens registered with the Tea Board, he added and informed that the order has badly affected more than 18 districts as the tea growers are unable to get their tea gardens registered with tea board to avail various subsidies and schemes under the Board’s Tea Development and Promotion Scheme and particularly under the special package for non-traditional tea areas in the north eastern states under the small grower development scheme for XII Plan Period.
Only 62 out of around 3,410 tea gardens in the state of Arunachal Pradesh were registered with tea board, Wangsu said while pointing out that as per the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, rubber plantation is also a non-forest activity like tea but the Rubber Board of India is registering the rubber growers of the state extending various subsidy schemes in Arunachal Pradesh.
Resolution on free electricity to HGB & GBs withdrawn:
Another private member resolution on providing free electricity to HGBs and GBs was withdrawn by former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki today after Chief Minister Pema Khandu assured to announce all possible facilities to HGBs and GBs besides free electricity in the budget of the next financial year.
The Chief Minister told the house that the government has enhanced the honorarium of HGBs and GBs and further assured to announced various other facilities to them in tune with the laid down provision in the next budget.
Earlier, while moving the resolution, Tuki urged the government to provide free power, telephone and TVs to the HGBs and GBs to facilitate smooth functioning of their services. (With inputs from DIPR)
Quote of the day
1. Doctor ka baat sur dijiye health assistant bi nehi hain — Tanga Byaling during question hour.
2. Arunachal can become largest tea producer in the country — Gabriel D Wangsu while moving a resolution
3. Tea Board does not allow LPC, wants patta — C T Mein
4. Tree felling ban huwa to tomato mey revolution aya hain — Japu Deru while referring to the tomato production in West Kameng after Supreme Court ban on timber operation since 1996.
5. Private members’ resolution mey interest kom ho goya — Former CM Nabam Tuki
