Imphal, July 29: After the Food and Civil Supplies Department came under heavy bombardments from the Opposition yesterday, the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department and Forest and Environment came under scathing attacks from the Opposition who demanded that stern action be taken up against recalcitrant employees of the two departments.

The Opposition trained their guns on the two Departments when a sum of Rs 21,55,38,000 for Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, Rs 38,56,52,000 for Forest and Environment and Rs 5,88,25,000 for Excise Department were sought to be passed during the Assembly session today.

Stopping just short of raising a cut motion, Singjamei AC MLA I Hemochandra said that even though an Imphal based firm M/S Lalmani and Company had garnered a supply order amounting to Rs 60 lakhs from the Centre for the Frozen Cement Plant there is little to suggest that the goods have been delivered.

The MLA said that the supply order was issued on January 18, 2001 and the amount for the same has also been released simultaneously.

However there is nothing to show that the goods have been delivered, he said and added that a spot inquiry will confirm his contention.

Hemochandra however said that the present Minister concerned, Thangso Baite, may not be involved in the scam but officers are permanent and action deemed fit should be taken up against the officers concerned as well as the Ministers concerned of the past.

The MLA further said that it is absolutely necessary that middlemen who misappropriate large sum of money should be pulled up and given appropriate punishment.

Manipur cannot afford to lose revenue due to unscrupulous middlemen, he added.

Joining in the discussion, Langthabal AC MLA O Joy observed that so far no centrally funded project of the Veterinary Department has been successfully implemented in Manipur.

Fully concurring with the observation of MLA L Ibomcha that the Buffalo Farm at Wabagai has been a dismal failure, O Joy said that similar project such as the Cattle Farm at Tulibari has also gone the same way adding that there are only 15 cattle heads presently.

The Pony Farm, Duck Farm and several other such projects have all miserably failed, added the MPP MLA.