Bills on higher education, ecological sites passed

*Staff REPORTER*

ITANAGAR, Mar 16: The Arunachal Pradesh State Higher Education Council Bill, 2018 moved by Education Minister Honchun Ngandam was passed in the Assembly on Friday. The minister had introduced the bill on March 9.

Moving the bill for passing, Ngandam told the House that the State Higher Education Council was an essential prerequisite under the guidelines of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) under National Higher Education Mission of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development, to review and coordinate the implementation of policies in all higher education institutions in the state including universities, research institutions and colleges.

Informing the House that the Council is only for RUSA programmes and not to be mixed up with other higher education schemes and programmes, he said that it is to develop network of various programmes in higher education undertaken and promoted by the Central and state government and by national level regulatory bodies including University Grants Commission, All India Council for Technical Education, National Council for Teacher Education, Medical Council of India, Bar Council of India and other similar statutory bodies.

Besides undertaking independent work for generating and dissemination of new ideas in higher education, providing common facilities for all universities, research institutions, colleges and other centres of higher education, generation and optimum utilisation of funds for expansion and development and promotion of excellence in education, the minister said the Council is purely on national flagship programme so its headquarters would be at Itanagar till the programme continues. He also highlighted the works being undertaken under RUSA in the state.

Members Japu Deru, Wanglin Lowangdong and Kento Rina participating in the discussion appreciated the bill to streamline the functioning of higher education institutions in the state.

Later, the bill was passed by voice vote.

Land and Ecological Sites Bill: The House also passed the Arunachal Pradesh Land and Ecological Sites (Protection & Management) Bill, 2018 moved by Town Planning and Urban Local Bodies Minister Nabam Rebia.

The bill provides preservation, protection, acquisition and maintenance of land and other ecological sites of the state within the jurisdiction of the administrative hqs and urban centres of the state and matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, Rebia said. He added that it would preserve and protect, besides acquisition and maintenance of government land meant for development of towns and settlements and other ecological sites of the state within the jurisdiction of the administrative hqs and urban centres and protect such land and ecological sites from unauthorised encroachers, wanton earth cutting and encroachment for habitation.

Member Lombo Tayeng highlighted on massive earth cutting in unplanned manner within the capital cities posing threat for landslides and stressed on regulating such rampant practices. Pointing out on variation of land compensation rate in the state, he suggested for uniformity of the rate for all districts.

Supporting the bill, Tage Taki sought precautionary measures to deal with natural calamities.

While calling for judicious utilisation of land, legislator Gabriel D Wangsu pointed out rampant construction of buildings without following building bye laws. He further urged upon the government to give directives for avoiding MIBT and OBT structures to do away with financial drain.

Other members including Wanglin Lowangdong also participated in the discussion.

Later, the house also passed the Arunachal Pradesh Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) (Repeal) Bill, 2018 moved by Rebia.

The bill is envisaged to provide for repeal of the Arunachal Pradesh Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2011 (No.4 of 2011) with no financial implication from the consolidated fund of the state.

Posts of anaesthesiologist: During Question Hour, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said there are 26 sanctioned posts of anaesthesiologist in the state – two permanent and 24 temporary. He told the House there are only three anaesthesiologists iposted at TRIHMS, Naharlagun, BPGH, Pasighat and as OSD to Director Medical Education (T&R), Naharlagun.

He also updated on the status of general surgeons in the state. “There are 27 sanctioned posts with only one permanent and 26 temporary. Of four general surgeons now, one is posted at TRIHMS, Naharlgun, two at BPGH, Pasighat and one at District Hospital, Daporijo,” he said.

The CM was responding to a query by Roing MLA Mutchu Mithi seeking the number of posts for anaesthesiologist and general surgeon in the state and how many are posted.

Khonsa-Hukanjuri road: In reply to a query of legislator Wanglin Lowangdong, DCM Chowna Mein said the DPR for double-lane work on 35 km stretch of NH-315A road from Khonsa to Hukanjuri was submitted to the Road Ministry on June 1, 2017 and out of this only 9 km has been considered in the NH(O) Annual Plan 2017-18. The DPR for 9 km had been submitted to the ministry in November last year for sanction by the MoRTH.

Lowangdong said that the road, once constructed by the people of Khonsa on self-help basis in 1956, is the lifeline of the people of two districts of Tirap and Longding.

Later, the Speaker adjourned the House sine die.