Oust Ibobi Campaign
Chauhan ‘satisfied’, but projects have long way to go:
Imphal, Dec 13: The statement of the Union minister of state in the Prime Minister`s Office, Prithivi Raj Chauhan, "I am satisfied with the work progress," has left questions unanswered in the minds of the people of the state particularly the Congressmen in the state, as it seems to contradict what he witnessed during his inspections of the project sites.
Congress MLAs, from both the camps may have not expected such a statement from the visiting Union minister, especially after he heard the views of the state officials during the project progress status review meeting held on the first day of his visit to the state.
Mention may be made that Chauhan came to the state capital on a three-day visit not as a Central observer of the ongoing crisis within the state Congress over the replacement issue of O Ibobi Singh but to inspect the progress of the projects implemented in the state under the Prime Minister`s package for reconstruction of the state three years back.
Even though Chauhan expressed satisfaction, the progress reports as tabled during the review meeting of Chauhan with the officials of the state government concerning project implementation, indicated that all the nine priority projects which were accorded sanction by the Centre were all in the initial stages.
Projects taken up on priority after getting sanction were Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal railway line, upgradation of NH-39 to four-lanes from Maram to Imphal, Tipaimukh hydro electricity project (1500 MW), Loktak down stream project (90 MW), augmentation of petroleum storage capacity, construction of FCI godowns at district headquarters in hill areas, night landing facilities at Imphal airport, construction of Capitol project etc. and they are all in the initial stages as per the report submitted to the Union minister yesterday.
The Capitol project which was sanctioned in 2004-05 at an estimated cost of Rs. 300 cr is still in the initial stages. Even as the Centre released Rs. 100 crore for 2006-07, in the brief note on the progress report of the project, it is mentioned clearly that funds were diverted and not utilized timely. On the contrary it was utilized in the completion of some important projects for power, roads, water supply, irrigation and buildings as it could not be incurred during the said financial year.
The stipulated time for the construction of the complex is three years which has already expired but the construction of Assembly complex at Chingmeirong is still in the initial stages.
Another source said that the model of the Assembly complex is yet to be finalized and the government is considering sending a team to visit some newly constructed Assembly complexes in the capitals of other states in the country.
A total amount of Rs. 123.82 crores has been sanctioned and released for the construction of Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal railway line out of a total estimated cost of Rs. 490 crores but still the survey works are not completed.
Apart from this, out of the total area of 77.97974 acres including 66.5047 acres of agricultural land and 11.47427 acres of homestead land to be acquired in Jiribam sub-division for the railway line construction, no land has so far been acquired.
Even as Rs. 1.025 crore was paid to the district administration by the railway authorities, so far no compensation has been paid to the affected land owners/pattadars as the compensation value is yet to be finalized by the government, the progress report said.
Likewise, even as 15 km out of 97 kms length of land has been acquired in Tamenglong district and railway authorities have given Rs. 2 crores for compensation payment, the same is only partly paid to the affected land owners.
For development of Imphal-Maram section of the NH-39 into four-lane, the work is yet to begin. The progress report also said that the survey work to be conducted by the National Highway Authority of India is yet to commence and the firm is planning to send a survey team within 10 days, it said.
Regarding the Tipaimukh dam construction and the Loktak Down Stream Project (90 MW) the state government is yet to take up necessary action for land acquisition and compensation for standing properties.
Source: The Imphal Free Press
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Imphal, Dec 13: The statement of the Union minister of state in the Prime Minister`s Office, Prithivi Raj Chauhan, "I am satisfied with the work progress," has left questions unanswered in the minds of the people of the state particularly the Congressmen in the state, as it seems to contradict what he witnessed during his inspections of the project sites.
Congress MLAs, from both the camps may have not expected such a statement from the visiting Union minister, especially after he heard the views of the state officials during the project progress status review meeting held on the first day of his visit to the state.
Mention may be made that Chauhan came to the state capital on a three-day visit not as a Central observer of the ongoing crisis within the state Congress over the replacement issue of O Ibobi Singh but to inspect the progress of the projects implemented in the state under the Prime Minister`s package for reconstruction of the state three years back.
Even though Chauhan expressed satisfaction, the progress reports as tabled during the review meeting of Chauhan with the officials of the state government concerning project implementation, indicated that all the nine priority projects which were accorded sanction by the Centre were all in the initial stages.
Projects taken up on priority after getting sanction were Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal railway line, upgradation of NH-39 to four-lanes from Maram to Imphal, Tipaimukh hydro electricity project (1500 MW), Loktak down stream project (90 MW), augmentation of petroleum storage capacity, construction of FCI godowns at district headquarters in hill areas, night landing facilities at Imphal airport, construction of Capitol project etc. and they are all in the initial stages as per the report submitted to the Union minister yesterday.
The Capitol project which was sanctioned in 2004-05 at an estimated cost of Rs. 300 cr is still in the initial stages. Even as the Centre released Rs. 100 crore for 2006-07, in the brief note on the progress report of the project, it is mentioned clearly that funds were diverted and not utilized timely. On the contrary it was utilized in the completion of some important projects for power, roads, water supply, irrigation and buildings as it could not be incurred during the said financial year.
The stipulated time for the construction of the complex is three years which has already expired but the construction of Assembly complex at Chingmeirong is still in the initial stages.
Another source said that the model of the Assembly complex is yet to be finalized and the government is considering sending a team to visit some newly constructed Assembly complexes in the capitals of other states in the country.
A total amount of Rs. 123.82 crores has been sanctioned and released for the construction of Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal railway line out of a total estimated cost of Rs. 490 crores but still the survey works are not completed.
Apart from this, out of the total area of 77.97974 acres including 66.5047 acres of agricultural land and 11.47427 acres of homestead land to be acquired in Jiribam sub-division for the railway line construction, no land has so far been acquired.
Even as Rs. 1.025 crore was paid to the district administration by the railway authorities, so far no compensation has been paid to the affected land owners/pattadars as the compensation value is yet to be finalized by the government, the progress report said.
Likewise, even as 15 km out of 97 kms length of land has been acquired in Tamenglong district and railway authorities have given Rs. 2 crores for compensation payment, the same is only partly paid to the affected land owners.
For development of Imphal-Maram section of the NH-39 into four-lane, the work is yet to begin. The progress report also said that the survey work to be conducted by the National Highway Authority of India is yet to commence and the firm is planning to send a survey team within 10 days, it said.
Regarding the Tipaimukh dam construction and the Loktak Down Stream Project (90 MW) the state government is yet to take up necessary action for land acquisition and compensation for standing properties.
Source: The Imphal Free Press
Related Story: