Imphal, July 17: Power minister Phungzathang Tonsing today informed the Assembly that the number of Government employees has come down from 74,839 in 1998-98 to about 70,000 employees now.

Tonsing who spoke on behalf of the chief minister said this in reply to a question raised by Thanga AC MLA S Ibohal during question hour today.

The chief minister left today to attend the Northeast Business Summit at Oberoi Hotel Mumbai.

To a further question, the Power Minister replied that approximately Rs 55 crores is spent monthly on meeting the salary demands of the employees.

Tonsing further said that the state government has approached the Centre to convert the opening deficit of the state government to ways and means or long term loan.

If the Centre agrees to this then the pay and salaries of July will be released on time, he added.

The minister also said that the Centre has agreed in principle to the suggestion of the state government.

AR at Kangla: To a question raised by ruling MLA N Biren, Phungzathang Tonsing stood in for the absent of chief minister that shifting of Assam Rifles from Kangla will be included on the agenda of SPF government.

The minister further said that that the site earmarked at Luwangsangbam to shift the AR from Kangla is now occupied by another additional AR deployed by the Centre to tackle the law and order situation.

As such another site had to be located for the AR to be shifted from Kangla, said the minister adding that one such site at Longa Koireng will be ready for occupation by 2003.The construction work is being taken up by BRTF.

As soon as the necessary work is completed the AR from Kangla will be shifted to Longa Koireng, he added.

Handloom and handicraft: Phungzathang Tonsing who also stood in for the Commerce and industries minister Th Debendra said that the Manipur Handloom and Handicraft Development Corporation Limited has been in the docks since 198-81 and the employees have not been paid regularly since then.