Imphal, May 05: The target for completion of Khuga Multi-Purpose Project has been revised yet again as construction activities are far behind the earlier target of 2002-03.Even though the completion target was revised to last year, at the least going by the snail paced progress of construction works the Government has rescheduled the target at 2005-06, disclosed a top ranking officer of Irrigation and Flood Control Department while speaking to The Sangai Express today.

Preferring anonymity, the officer stated that due to flare up of communal violence especially in the hill districts, construction material could not be transported to the dam site located at Thate village of Churachandpur district constraining deferment of the completion date.

Financial problems of the State Government is also another factor for the delay even though the project work began in 1983-84 and was first targeted for completion within three to four years, informed the officer adding that the completion period had to be later rescheduled to 2002-03.Till date status of the project construction has been put at 65 percent earth work, 85 pc spill way with canal and distributaries estimated at 70 percent, detailed the officer.

An amount of Rs 164 crore has been spent for the construction of the project undertaken jointly by National Project Construction Corporation and IFCD with local labourers as the work force.

The incurred amount is from the total revised cost of Rs 249.47 crore estimated in September 2001 compared to the original cost estimate of Rs 15 crore.

Out of the project land span of 1200 hectares 80 hectares belong to reserved forest, 42 hectares owned by private parties while the total land area likely to be submerged on completion of the project will be 700 hectares.

Even though land related problems have been amicably settled completion of the project within the targeted year very much depends on timely release of the funds sanctioned by funding agencies like the Accelerated irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) and Additional Central Assistance, expressed the Department officer.

Mention may be that in November 2000 the then Superintending Engineer I Nabachandra and Executive Engineer S Dhanabir had informed media-persons at the project site of targeting completion of the project by 2002-03.According to report submitted by the duo total amount incurred in the project construction at that time was calculated at Rs 122.70 crore with 77 percent completion of earth work, 70 percent spill way construction and canal and distributaries at 67 percent.

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