By Francis Khongwar
Shillong ( Meghalaya ), March 17 :The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly today rejected the Breach of Privilege Notice against the Speaker, Metbah Lyngdoh by voice vote. The breach of privilege notice against the speaker was moved by a member belonging to the ruling side, Adelbert Nongrum of Khun Hynniewtrep Awakening Movement(KHNAM) .
The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly today passed the Meghalaya Appropriation (No.11) Bill, 2022. The Bill authorizes payment and appropriation of certain sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of Meghalaya for the services of the Financial Year ending on the thirty first day of March, 2023.
When the Bill becomes becomes an Act, it will enable the state Government to withdrawal from and out of the Consolidated fund of Meghalaya Rs. 18 thousand, 181 crore from and out of the Consolidated Fund of Meghalaya for the financial year 2022-2023 towards defraying the several charges which will come in course of payment during the financial year ending on the thirty first day of March, 2023 in respect of the services incurred by the state Government.
The Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong in-charge of PWD (Roads) today informed the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly that the State government has projected a total amount of Rs 800 crore on the various projects under the Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project funded by the World Bank.
Replying to the supplementary question raised by Leader of Opposition, Dr. Mukul Sangma during the Question Hour on the final day of the Assembly budget session, Tynsong said that the implementation of 13 projects are under progress the state Government has submitted the Detailed Project Reports on the remaining eight projects. According to him, the Government will also be able to allot the work for the remaining 8 projects by the end of this month.
Tourism Minister, Sniawbhalang Dhar today informed that the approved amount of Rs 200 lakh is not sufficient for the Scheme for “Beautification of Umiam View Point” which has left the department not to take up the scheme and are now examining for new source of funding for taking up the project.
While replying to a question raised by Umroi AITC MLA George Lyngdoh during the Question Hour on the final day of the ongoing Budget Session, Dhar stated that the proposed amount for the project was Rs 700 lakh but the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, approved 200 lakhs. According to him, the approved amount is not sufficient to cover the proposed project.
Tourism Minister informed that the department is now examining for a new source of funding for taking up the project,” informed Dhar.
Umroi AITC MLA suggested that since the amount is available with the government, if facilities like public utilities, parking space can be thought of since it has become an eyesore to see people using and polluting the entire area at Ryndang Briew, Umiam.
All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) legislator from the state and leader of opposition, Dr.Mukul Sangma has urged the government to constitute an independent inquiry commission to specifically probe into Smart Metering project funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). “In order to instill confidence among the people of the state, a separate commission of inquiry to specifically to go into the details of the smart meters should be considered by the government,” Sangma said during the Question Hour.
In his reply, Tynsong said that the leader of opposition himself was in-charge of Power department at one point and he knows the inherent problem that is generated over the years.
“So taking into the importance of this issue ultimately we decided from the government to remove all these kind of confusion that has been inherited, then we set up an independent inquiry committee and let them go deep from April 1, 2010,” the Deputy Chief Minister said. Tynsong also said that the past governments never constituted an inquiry to look into the matter but the present government has done it. “We are transparent. we will not hide. We will make sure that public should know what the government is doing,” the Deputy Chief Minister said. The inquiry shall cover the period from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2021.
