The Budget session of the State Assembly on Wednesday witnessed noisy scenes over replies of Drinking Water and Sanitation Minister Mithilesh Thakur over the procedures of repair of handpumps in the State. The scene reached a point resulting with exchange of words between Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto and former speaker CP Singh.
The situation reached such a point that senior legislator Stephen Marandi and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Alamgir Alam had to come forward to intervene defending the government. The matter came to fore during question hour, when BJP MLA from Bokaro Biranchi Narayan raised the issue stating that the department does not know the process for the repair of the handpumps.
Biranchi, raising the issue seeking information from the minister said, “How many handpumps are defunct in the State? The number of handpumps being repaired and whether all these hand pumps will be repaired before the onset of summer?” The Minister on the question of Biranchi replied giving the number of handpumps being repaired, however the MLA posed another question seeking information from the minister about the details of handpumps installed by MPs and MLAs.
The minister replied that he had little information about repair details about hand pumps installed by MPs and MLAs leading to uproar in the Assembly. On the reply of the minister, Biranchi stated that if the minister has little information about the status of handpumps installed by MPs and MLAs then the minister has no moral right to continue as a minister.
The MLA stated that if the minister has little information about who has power to repair handpumps then the minister can postpone the question for next day. There were heated arguments between the minister and MLA over the issue.
In the meantime, the Speaker tried to pacify the situation, however, former Speaker CP Singh defending Biranchi stood up and addressing the Chair said that the Chair (Speaker) is always satisfied with the reply of the minister, then what is left with the Opposition. On the remark of CP Singh, the Speaker said that CP Singh always accuses the Chair, this is not a good practice leading to uproar once again in the House.
Intervening over the issue, senior legislator Stephen Marandi tried to pacify the situation stating that it is the duty of the department to carry out the repair of handpumps in the State. The minister on the remark of the ruling party MLA once again stood stating that MLAs and MPs install handpumps as per their prerogative and the department has no information where the hand pumps are installed leading to uproar in the House by BJP lawmakers.
Parliamentary affairs minister Alamgir Alam intervening on the issue said that handpumps are installed as per PHED norms and so it is the duty of the department to carry out the repair of the handpumps.