Imphal, July 30: Commerce and Industries Minister Th Debendra today categorically said that the State Government has not made any formal announcement that any corporations would be shut down.

The Minister however added with equal intensity that the Government has already started taking up the process of closing down some sick units which have no scope for revival.

The Industries Minister said this when the Opposition raised cut motions during the discussion for passing the grants of Commerce and Industries and Weights and Measures (Rs 20,67,30,000), PHED (Rs 81,60,18,000) and General Economics Services and Planning (Rs 37,65,65,000).After due discussion, the Opposition withdrew the cut motion and the demands were unanimously passed by the Assembly.

The Industries Minister said that process for winding up some corporations including the Manipur Spinning Mill, Cement Factory, Bamboo Chipping Plant and Cycle Factory has been set into motion.

However no such process has been taken up for MANIDCO, Handloom and Handicrafts Corporation and MANITRON.

The Government is mulling over the possibility of slashing the employees� strength of the Handloom and Handicrafts Corporation, said Debendra and added that a market complex for the corporation is being contemplated upon.

Efforts are on to provide a survival package to MANIDCO while no survey has yet been conducted for MANITRON, informed the Minister.

To develop the Handloom sector, the Government is trying to take up the Deen Dayal Project, said Debendra.

Out of the 212 beneficiaries to be selected for the project, the Centre has already given the nod to 174 beneficiaries, Debendra informed the House.

Beneficiaries will be given financial aid only after verifying their identities, he assured adding that the problems of the existence of numerous one man society and clash of interest amongst the weavers society would be ironed out.

PHED Minister Govindas Konthoujam said that though a number of water supply scheme has been finalized, water could not be actually supplied due to shortage of water pipes.

75 pc of the work of laying pipes between Leimakhong and Kangchup has been completed, said the Minister and added that the water scarcity problem in Imphal will be solved once Phase I of the Imphal Water Supply scheme is finalized.

To effect down sizing, an Officers' Committee is studying the matter, said the Minister.

Govindas further said that a sum of Rs 30 lakhs has been earmarked to construct new drainages adding that strict action would be taken up against anyone drilling holes in the pipes against the laid down rules and regulations.

Attributing the failure of rural water supply scheme to the drying up of the water sources, damages to the pipelines etc, the Minister said that efforts are on to entrust the Panchayat with the task of supplying good drinking water in the rural areas.

A new scheme, Sawajal Bara is in the pipeline for this, he informed.