Imphal, Sep 19: Making the stand of the Government clear, Chief Minister O Ibobi yesterday informed the House that the Govt is trying to dispose off the 1036 die-in-harness cases pending with 36 departments as soon as possible and added that this figure accounts for till June 2002.Earlier moving a motion MLA S Ibohal said appointment under the die-in-harness scheme was stopped in 2002 due to the acute financial condition.

Now that the condition has improved, the Government should look for ways to extend the benefits to the people who are entitled to it, he observed.

Replying to the observation of the MLA, Ibobi, who also holds the Finance portfolio, said that appointment under the said scheme was stopped in 2002 due to acute financial condition.

It was not at the fancy and whims of the Govt, he clarified.

Since the financial condition was in dire straits the Govt had no option but to stop the appointment under this scheme, said the Chief Minister and explained that the step was taken up so as to cut down non-plan expenditure which was on the rise.

The Chief Minister however said that family pensions are being given to the families of the Government, employees who passed away while in service.

The number of die-in-harness cases pending in 36 different departments till June 2002 is 1036, said Ibobi and added that since there are no vacancies for direct recruitment, the Government is unable to appoint anyone under this scheme.

The Chief Minister also appealed to all concerned not to target public properties during any time of agitation and declared that the SPF Government will not succumb to pressure.

Moving another motion, MLA L Ibomcha said that all the roads in Imphal and Greater Imphal have become unfit for human use.

This has posed serious threat to the people, especially during times of emergency, said the MLA and added that the conditions of RIMS road and Uripok-Kangchup road are in deplorable conditions.

Responding to the points raised by the MLA, Works Minister Govindas Konthoujam said that the 11th Finance Commission had allotted Rs.13.42 crores for the period 2000 to 2005.Out of this Rs 3 crore was earmarked for road maintenance every year and the task of constructing 7640 kms of road was taken up.

Therefore repairing the road could not be taken up, he explained.

The Minister assured that RIMS road would be black topped soon and the road at Uripok on either side of the fly over would be repaired by November.

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