Aizawl, Sept. 26: The fifth Mizoram Assembly began its sixth session today with ministers having to face awkward questions from the Opposition members.

Although only five questions were taken during the allotted Question Hour, many supplementary questions from the Opposition members proved embarrassing for some of the ministers.

Food and civil supplies minister K. Sangthuama was taken to task by Congress legislator R. Lalzirliana on the question of corrupt practices by storekeepers under his department. The Opposition legislator practically accused the minister of being hand-in-glove with the storekeepers as the amount siphoned off was more than Rs 3 crore.

The minister explained that many storekeepers under his department had been suspended because of corruption charges. However, he said the government had decided to reinstate most of these people as it can recover the money siphoned off by them through a cut in their pay.

The Opposition also alleged that the frequent breakdown of weighbridges was the handiwork of the employees themselves as it was easier to tamper with manual weights.

Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) president Lalduhoma demanded an assurance from the minister that action would be taken against the erring officials, which the minister declined to do on the grounds that it was difficult to establish who had tampered with the weighing machines.

Also facing flak was home minister Tawnluia, who had to explain in detail how items were categorised for the supply of uniforms and equipment for Mizoram police.

The home minister said there was difficulty in preparing the comparative statements of intending suppliers as it had to be made detailed. This resulted in the late supply of the items, he added. The minister further admitted that quotations are not out yet for supply materials to police personnel for the fiscal 2005-06.

Fisheries minister B. Lal-thlengliana also came in for criticism for alleged discrepancies in giving out the second instalment to beneficiaries under a departmental scheme.

The Opposition alleged that the minister had shown favouritism by accepting applications from people who had not utilised the first instalment for the listed purposes.

The minister, however, refuted the allegations and said second instalments were not disbursed among those who had not utilised the money in the proper way.

The home minister informed the House that the state government had prepared and finished drafting the Mizoram Police Manual after 18 years of Mizoram attaining statehood. The manual has been approved by the cabinet. He further said Mizoram?s quota in the Indian Police Service (IPS) cadre had been increased from 10 to 14, including eight promotee cadre.

The Assembly session, which will continue till Friday, will have no sitting on Wednesday.