Imphal, Jul 18: The Industrial Growth Centre (IGC) included in the economic package of the Prime Minister has failed to make any headway even as its foundation stone was laid at Lamlai Napet Palli of Imphal East way back on June 5, 2000.Conceived with the objective introducing a certain level of industrialisation in the State, the Union Government granted its approval in-principle in 1989.Talking to The Sangai Express on the proposed IGC, Industries Minister N Mangi said that experts have some reservations over the location of the project site.

On the other hand, many complaints have been filed at Courts by the land owners against the land acquisition drive of the State Government for the Centre which has been greatly impeding the progress of the construction work.

Nevertheless, he disclosed that his Department has plans to install all the necessary infrastructure for the Centre within a short time.

When the project proposal was sent to the Union Government, it was proposed that the Centre be established at Kanglatongbi of Senapati district.

The location was shifted because of large number of land encroachers at Kanglatongbi.

According to a reliable source, the land area required for the Centre is 461 acres.

Of these, only about 157.17 acres are wasteland while the rest 303.83 acres belong to private owners.

The project site in Napet Palli is constituted by both plain and hilly areas.

Even though the foundation stone was laid in the wasteland part to commence infrastructure development in a phase wise manner, nothing has moved forward till date for the establishment of the IGC.

Not only was the IGC scheduled for completion within three years, it was also targeted to provide employment to 8000 persons.

Moreover, 25 entrepreneurs had submitted applications in 2005 to work under the Centre.

Two main schemes included in the Prime Minister's economic package but failed by the State Government are the Industrial Growth Centre and the Loktak Downstream Project.

Many people are hoping that the Chief Minister O Ibobi and Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh would do something to avert these projects going down the drain.

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