IMPHAL, April 5: The MLA Thongju constituency, Th Bishwajit said he welcomes any challenge to have an open debates on the developmental work in the Thongju constituency during his tenure, any time and any places. His only condition, he said is that the Thongju electorate should be witness to the debate.
The MLA was speaking at a press meet held at his home office on Saturday.
He further said that he has been seeking such an opportunity to initiate an open debate on the matter of developmental work in the last 10 years tenure of Bijoy Koijam and last three year of his own tenures in the constituency.
Bishwajit clarified the allegation against him was baseless and very unfortunate. He however said Thongju people are witness as to who have done more work for the people.
He further clarified on the issue of the fracas over the earthwork to clean the drainage system between Kongba Kshetri Leikai and Sapam Thongkhong saying it was unfortunate there were some technical failure of the machinery and this resulted in about 15 days delay, which the ex-MLA took advantage of to spread false propaganda.
The aim was to clean the whole length of the drain and not a few meters only. Unfortunate that some from the Sapam clan formed the Kongba Kshetri Leikai South people and tried to split the unity of a locality using false pretexts of the delayed work, he said.
He further clarified that he has no intent of issuing threats to any section of the people of his constituency, as somebody by the name of Mohindro claimed he did.
About the road condition in the Thongju constituency, he said that there was not a single village in the Thongju area which was included in the PMGSY scheme before he became MLA.
After he made complaint to the concern authority, two roads were included in the ninth phases and another four roads in the tenth phase of PMGSY scheme for Thongju constituency. The roads were widened to 18 feet instead of 10 feet which is the specification of the scheme.
Bishwajit promised that by 2016 the road condition of entire Thongju constituency will be in tip top condition and all will be blacktopped.
He said that till 2011 there was not a single crematory in the Thongju constituency. All last rites were performed in the open on the river banks. He therefore decided to take up the construction of crematories in every village, as per the needs and demands of the public.
About the PDS items distribution in the constituency, he answered Bijoy`™s question as to what was the increase in entitlement of the constituency. Bishwajit clarified that he does not have any power to increase quota of PDS entitlement from the allocation earmarked by the Central Government.
He said that the matter is whether the public received the PDS items during his period properly. The distribution system was totally in a mess when he took up office, but today people are getting the PDS item in time. They are getting even the MLA`™s personal quota of kerosene oil from the Assembly, Bishwajit said.
Again, he alleged the ex-MLA Bijoy Koijam of selling the dug earth to individuals, and has taken money from Kongba Kshetri Leikai. He said that seven truck loads were sold to Ningthem of Kongba Kshetri Leikai, four truckloads of Kh Boby, Six truckloads to , 10 truckloads to Th Asalata and another 10 truckloads at the rate of Rs. 500 per trips to Sobha.
MLA Bishajit lastly asked the ex-MLA if he did any developmental work in the Thongju constituency transparently, he should show the detail report for the 10 years of Local Area Development Funds utilized in welfare of Thongju public by him as MLA.