Imphal, January 19: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi singh has issued strong instructions to complete the Khuga multi Purpose Project by next year.

Construction works of the project had started some twenty years back.

Talking to media-persons at the sideline of a spot inspection of the project site today, the Chief Minister asserted that all required construction material would be provided in addition to deployment of adequate security force personnel to check anti-social activities.

Even though completion of project has been revised to 2006-07, Ibobi instructed the department officials concerned to expedite the construction activities for activation of the multi-purpose project by March next year.

Ibobi also contended that if only the previous State Governments had provided necessary security cover and ensured constant supply of construction material the people could have immensely benefited from the project and project cost would have been maintained at the minimum.

He also appealed to the general public especially Churachandpur district citizens and organisations to extend moral support for the expeditious completion of the project.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Irrigation and Flood control Minister Phungzathang Tonsing, MLA Chalton Lien Amo and top Government officials including Chief Secretary jarnail Singh.

According to IFCD Executive Engineer S Dhanabir who is supervising the project work, the Khuga scheme on completion can provide irrigation facilities to about 15,000 hectares, generate 1.75 megawatt electricity and supply five million gallon of drinking water.

The Khuga project launched in 1983-84 is located about 70 kilometres from the State capital and is situated at mata area of Churachandpur district.

It was previously slated for completion in 1987-88.Initial construction works were handled by the Delhi based agency MS Amarpali with the estimated cost put at Rs 15 crore, recalled the EE who added that due to ethnic clash, deterioration of law and order situation and financial crunch faced by the State Government construction activities ceased till the later part of 1991.From 1992 the project works resumed under national Project Construction and the completion time reviewed again in 2003 while the estimated cost shot up to Rs 249.47 crore.

The project completion period has also been tentatively revised to 2006-07.The IFCD official also exuded confidence of completing the Khuga scheme earlier than the latest schedule if construction activities continue without any disturbances.

Out of the revised estimate of Rs 249.49 crores Rs 166.62 had already been utilised during the 2003-04 session and another amount of Rs 6.75 used by December, 2004, detailed the EE.

Dhanabir further informed of 70 percent of the 230 metre long 38 metre earth dam having been completed and only 15 percent remaining for the spillway.

The distributary system of the dam and 24 kilometres long left main canal could be completed by about 65 percent with similar achievement for the 60 kilometre right main canal, said the Engineer.

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