Imphal, October 19: Dismiss it as mere coincidence or construe as yet another manifestation of developmental schemes not executed in a proper manner, it is a fact that Khuga Multi-purpose Project site is unarguably becoming a bone of contention between the Chief Minister and officials/contractors involved in the project construction.

Having witnessed Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh lose his cool during a previous visit to the same spot a similar scene prevailed today too at the dam site when the CM exploded with anger on observing that his instructions to expedite project works had largely fallen on deaf ears.

the CM vented his anger, again, on observing that progress of the ongoing works is far from satisfactory inspite of his strong instructions that the work has to be completed within a stipulated time-frame.

In a scene reminiscent of a public display of police interrogating a criminal, the Chief Minister grilled top Engineering officials and the contractor concerned and questioned whether there were any compelling factors causing the work progress of the dam to fall behind schedule.

A visibly upset O Ibobi blew his top at the project site saying that until a definite time-frame is set for any developmental project being undertaken in Manipur there is hardly any notable progress.

Accompanied by the Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Phungzathang Tonsing, the CM reached the dam site this morning only to be greeted by a handful of labourers going through their chores which incensed the Chief Minister no end.

Reprimanding the Engineer and contractor concerned in front of some media persons who had gone to cover the inspection tour, the CM furiously inquired whether it is shortage of fund, lack of construction materials or any other unseen constraints that had been impeding favourable work progress.

While a contractor merely clarified there is no such problem, Chief Engineer of IFCD under whose supervision the project works are being implemented, reasoned that he had received information of many labourers abstaining from work at the project site to protest non-payment of wages.

The matter came to light when the Chief Engineering made a spot inspection yesterday, the IFCD official said.

While reminding that deadline for commissioning the project is December this year, the Chief Minister also fumed at the official/contractor whether the delay is being deliberately caused.

When the contractor commented that about 3.5 metre construction of Power House of the Project had been achieved, the CM retorted that only such a miserable progress could be made in a calendar year.

Apart from issuing strong instruction to engage more labourers (100-200), O Ibobi also summoned officials of National Project Construction Corporation and Engineers to attend a meeting tomorrow to finalise a definite time-frame and other related matters.

On the otherhand, IFC Minister Phungzathang Tonsing informed that concerted effort would be made to commission the Project next month.

Among others, incomplete works observed at the Project side include the sluice gate of the dam, absence of black-topping of the approach road, delay in Power House construction and invisible facility for illuminating the project area.

It had been reported that during a similar sojourn to the project site in August last a soft drink packet the CM was holding under the searing heat was suddenly burst under the clenching fist of O Ibobi who also left the scene in a hurry, apparently in a fit of anger.

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