MEGHALAYA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

RE -ASSEMBLE BUDGET SESSION,  2004

BULLETIN NO. 9

(Wednesday, The 23^rd June, 2004)

                The House met at 10 a.m. with the Hon'ble Speaker in the Chair. The day was devoted for the transaction of Government Business.

1.        QUESTIONS :

                Starred questions Nos. 109,110,112,113,115,119,120,121,123,124,125 and 127 with Supplementaries thereto, Starred questions Nos.111,116,117,120,129,130,131,132 and 133 without Supplementaries, were disposed of.
                Starred questions Nos. 114,118,122 and 126 lapsed since the questionnaire was absent. Unstarred question No46 to which written answers was given, was laid on the table.

2.        STATEMENT BY MINISTER INCHARGE P.W.D. (ROADS) UNDER RULE 55 : 

                Under Rule 55 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, Dr. Mukul Sangma, Minister incharge P.W.D. ( Roads) gave a statement to the House in regard to his reply to his Unstarred question No. 13 dated 16.06.2004.

3.        CALLING ATTENTION NOTICE UNDER RULE 54 :

                Shri A. Chaudhuri, called the attention of the Minister Mining and Geology under Rule 54 (1) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business to the news item published in the "Meghalaya Guardian" dt 5.6.2004 under the caption "Kakodkas to break UCIL - State Government Grid Lock".
                Quoting newspaper report, Shri Ardhendu Chaudhuri, hon. Member from Mawprem stated that the Chairman of the Uranium Corporation of India Ltd, during his recent visit to Shillong and to the mining areas at Domiasiat in West Khasi Hills had promised to set up schools, hospitals, residential colony and also to provide   rehabilitation to the affected people and that he claimed that the response of the people there was positive and very encouraging. He wanted to know the Minister incharge how many people had he met (2) Whether random interaction with the people was taken to get their views and opinions in this regard ? The hon. Member also stated that the N.E.H.U. has also emerged as an authority in the task of uranium mining. He called for the clarification as to whether N.E.H.U. could play its role or come into picture or uranium mining? (3) Whether UCIL and the Government of India has taken any step to disseminate information either positive or negative or infavour or against uranium mining (4) Whether UCIL would go ahead with uranium mining? and if so, what is the policy to protect the rights of the land owners and the environment.
                In reply to the Calling Attention Notice, Smti Deborah C. Marak, Minister incharge Mining and Geology apprised the hon. Member that the UCIL had initiated the Domasiat uranium mining project and approached the State Government for almost a decade now and a series of discussions were held but no decision was taken by the State Government till now and that Dr. Kakodhar while attending a press conference on 5th June, 2004 at Shillong he had received instructions from the President of India to remove fears and apprehension from the mind of the people about uranium mining at Domasiat and that consequent upon his visit to Domiasiat he had found that the response  was very encouraging from the local people. The Minister incharge further apprised that Dr.Kakodkar had proposed uranium mining project at Domiasiat to which the Chief Minister stated that the proposal was under examination at present and that the chief Minister had advised Dr.Kakodkar and the UCIL officials to arrange for public awareness campaign by effective use of media and interaction with N-G.OS and the local people and to informed them of the development programmes.

4.        ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE CHAIR:

              The Hon'ble Speaker informed the House that he had received a letter from Dr. R.C.Laloo, General Secretary of the MP.P.C.C. informing him that the members of the N.C.P. namely (1)Shri.  C.R.Sangma M.L.A. (2)Shri E.D. Marak M.L.A. (3) Shri Brening  A. Sangma (4) Shri Beckstar Sangma (5) Shri Nidhu Ram Hajong and (6) Shri Samuel Sangma have been admitted to the National Congress after they have finally merged with effect from 2nd december,2003. He read out  the letter for the information of the House.

5.        THE MEGHALAYA TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2004:
              Shri F. Lyngdoh , Minister urban Affairs moved that the MeghalayaTown and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill, 2004 be taken in to consideration.
              The motion was carried , the Bill to be taken into consideration. But as there was no amendment, the Minister in charge moved that the bill be passed.
               (The motion was carried, the Meghalaya Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill, 2004 was passed).

6.        THE MEGHALAYA PROHIBITION OF MANUFACTURE, SALE, USE AND THROWING OF LOW DENSITY PLASTIC BAGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 2004 : 
          Shri F. Lyngdoh, Minister, Urban Affairs moved that the Meghalaya Prohibition of Manufacture, Sale, Use and Throwing of Low Density Plastic Bags (Amendment) Bill, 2004 be taken into consideration.
                The motion was carried, the Bill to be taken into consideration. But as there was no amendment, the Minister incharge moved that the Bill be passed.
                (The motion was carried, the Meghalaya Prohibition of Manufacture, Sale, Use and Throwing of Low Density Plastic Bags ( Amendment) Bill, 2004 was passed).

7.        THE MEGHALAYA TAX (ON LUXURIES) BILL, 2004 :

                Shri J.D Rymbai, Minister, Taxation moved that the Meghalaya Tax (on Luxuries) Bill, 2004 be taken into consideration.
                The motion was carried, the Bill to be taken consideration. But as there was no amendment, the Minister incharge moved that the Bill be passed.
                (The motion was carried, the Meghalaya Taxation (on Luxuries) Bill, 2004 was passed).

8.        THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MEGHALAYA (MEMBERS' SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES) (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2004 :
            Shri J.D. Rymbai, Minister, Parliamentary Affairs moved that the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya (Members' Salaries and Allowances) ( Amendment) Bill, 2004 be taken into consideration.
                The motion was carried, the Bill to be taken into consideration. But as there was no amendment, the Minister incharge moved that the Bill be passed.
                (The motion was carried, the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya ( Member's Salaries and Allowances)     ( Amendment) Bill, 2004 was passed).

9.        THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MEGHALAYA (MEMBERS' FAMILY PENSION)
           (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2004 :  

               Shri J.D. Rymbai, Minister, Parliamentary Affairs moved that the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya (Members' Family Pension) (Amendment) Bill, 2004 be taken into consideration.
                The motion was carried, the Bill to be taken into consideration. But as there was no amendment, the Minister incharge moved that the Bill be passed.
               (The motion was carried, the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya (Members Family Pension) (Amendment) Bill, 2004 was passed).

10.        THE ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS OF THE MESEB FOR THE YEAR 1999-2000 :

                Shri R. L. Tariang, Minister, Power laid the Annual Administrative Reports of the MeSEB for the year1999-2000.

11.        PRESENTATION OF ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE'S REPORTS :

                Shri H. S. Lyngdoh, MLA and Chairman, Committee on Estimates, Meghalaya Legislative Assembly presented the following Reports of the Committee :-
              

  
12.        ELECTION TO THE OFFICE OF DEPUTY SPEAKER :

                The Hon'ble Speaker apprised the House that one valid nomination paper to the Office of the Deputy Speaker in favour of Shri P.W Muktieh proposed by Shri Charles Pyngrope and succeeded by Dr. Donkupar Roy was received by his Secretariat till  3 p.m. yesterday and that since Shri P.W. Muktieh was the only candidate therefore, Shri P.W. Muktieh was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly unopposed. Shri P.W. Muktieh, Deputy Speaker, Meghalaya Legislative Assembly was thereafter, conducted to his seat in the House by the Leader of the House and the Leader of Opposition amidst thumping of desks and applause.

13.        FELICITATIONS TO THE NEWLY ELECTED DEPUTY SPEAKER :

                Shri D. D. Lapang, Chief Minister and also Leader of the House, felicitated Shri P. W. Muktieh, the newly elected Deputy Speaker. Other Members who took part in felicitating the newly elected Deputy Speaker include :-

                On his brief reciprocal address to the House, Shri P.W. Muktieh, Deputy Speaker elected, expressed his gratitude and happiness to all the Members for his being elevated to this high office of the Deputy Speaker as well as for his being unanimously elected by the House. He assured to perform his duty sincerely without being partisan to any one and to maintain the sanctity, dignity and the decorum of this august House. He called for the co-operation of Members from both sides of the House to enable him to discharge his duty to the satisfaction of one and all. In fine, the Deputy Speaker elected once-again, expressed his thankfulness to all Members for re-posing their confidence on him.

14.        ADJOURNMENT :

                The House rose at 12.35 p.m. and stood adjourned till 10 a.m. on Thursday, the 24th June, 2004.