IMPHAL, June 25: Works Minister Dr Khumukcham Ratankumar Singh had to face several questions in the House today from the Sagolband Assembly Constituency MLA RK Imo Singh regarding the construction of a drainage system instead of blacktopping as included in the work program for the internal roads of Sagolband Meino Leirak for which the bills have all been cleared.
The 12th day sitting of the ongoing Assembly session today was started by question and answer business.
Sagolband MLA Imo asking question No 156 said, “Will the Works Minister be pleased to state the maintenance of internal roads of Meino Leirak (S Lakhikanta Mapa).”
Works Minister Ratankumar answering the question said that the works were assigned to a contractor named H Brainy Singh and all the bills have been cleared.
Following the reply, there was a debate between the Minister and the MLA on the matter which the Speaker Th Lokeshwar Singh interrupted.
MLA RK Imo Singh said that two shares of work for his constituency under the Works department were included in the 13th Finance Commission. SL No 21 of the 13th FC is for the maintenance work of black topping of the internal roads of Meino Leirak, he said.
The MLA questioned why the bills were cleared before the works of blacktopping started.
The Minister replied that instead of the blacktopping, drains have been constructed on the sides of the same road due to the arising need for construction of drains before blacktopping.
The MLA questioned on what criteria the drains were constructed as the works assigned are for blacktopping of the roads and if there was an administrative approval for the construction of the drains and if yes, provide him with a copy.
The Minister mentioned that there was a need to construct the drain before blacktopping of the road, however there are already drains running at the said portion of the road and the drains which were newly constructed were some 20 metres away from the said portion of the road, the MLA said.
The MLA further asked the Minister his convenient time so that they both can go for an inspection of the said roads.