Imphal, July 18: With the Centre asking the State Government to return the fund sanctioned for the construction of Ima Keithel at Khwairamband bazar, City Convention Centre at Palace Gate and two Thoubal Keithels, the SPF Government has proposed to the Centre that the construction work be handed over to the PWD.

The construction works were taken up under funding from the Union Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation and the construction works were entrusted to the National Building Construction Corporation.

Speaking to The Sangai Express an official on condition of anonymity said that the Centre asked the State Government to return the sanctioned amount as no progress has been seen even though more than 18 months have passed since the last deadline.

To pave the way for the new three Nupi Keithel, the then existing structures were demolished and the vendors were shifted to the site where the District Hospital once stood.

Significantly the standing structures at Thoubal were razed to the ground on December 4, 2004 while the ones at Khwairamband and Palace Gate were demolished in July 2005. Even at Palace Ground, many existing structures were pulled down to the ground to pave the way for the City Convention Centre, but no concrete progress has been made in all these years.

The same is the case with Thoubal bazar.

The structures were demolished in 2005 and 2005. After the Centre asked that the sanctioned amount be returned since there has been no progress at all, the State Government has forwarded a proposal that the works be allotted to the State PWD from the NBCC.

The source said that the State Govt is optimistic that the Centre will respond favourably to the proposal and added that once the nod is received, the construction work will be taken up in full gusto.

The City Convention Centre is to be built with a fund of Rs 23.5 crores.

After being entrusted with the task, the NBCC had floated tenders for the same, but since no company came forward, work has been stalled, explained the source.

For the three Nupi Keithels at Khwairamband bazar, the amount sanctioned by the Centre is Rs 37.7 crores.

With different and contrasting opinions being aired over the proposal to construct the three Keithels, the State Government had sought more time from the Centre, which was granted.

Of the two market sheds to come up at Thoubal a sum of Rs 22 crore was sapctioned for one market while another Rs 12 crore was sanctioned for the second shed.

Out of the total cost of the projects, the State has to bear 10 pc of the cost while the rest is to be borne by the Centre.

The Finance Department has already conveyed to the Engineering Departments concerned that 5.6 pc of the cost after VAT is to be deducted from the source.

An official order to this effect has also been issued.

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