Imphal, Jul 28: Despite strong opposition from the people, the pre-bid qualification seal of the global tender announced by NEEPCO for construction of the proposed Tipaimukh Dam project was opened at Guwahati yesterday.

The State Government has also reportedly given its approval to set up a Committee for conducting necessary public hearing at Tamenglong so that the project can be implemented from this year.

Disclosing this to The Sangai Express, an official of NEEPCO said the seal of the pre-bid qualification of the global tender announced by the Corporation for the first phase was opened at Guwahati yesterday and steps have been taken up to short-list the firms which would be entrusted with the task of commencing the work.

In all, 3 firms from Japan, one from Iran, 2 from China and 7 others from India responded to the global tender, the official informed, adding that no final decision on which firm would be selected is yet to be taken.

The official further disclosed that out of Rs 100 crores sought by NEEPCO from the Union Power Ministry for conducting the survey and investigation to begin construction work on the 1500 megawatt project estimated to cost Rs 5885 crores, only Rs 9 crores had been sanctioned.

Informing that the State Government has also given its approval to set up an Environmental Public Hearing Panel, the NEEPCO official said Deputy Commissioner concerned would be the Chairman of the panel, a NEEPCO representative would be the member secretary and the other members would be secretary of Pollution Control Board, Chief Engineer (Power) and senior scientific officer of Environment and Ecology Wing.

The public hearing would be conducted in a scientific manner, the official said, adding that a definite date for conducting the hearing, however, has not yet been finalised.

As for Churachandpur district, the approval on the Public Hearing Panel had already been given on May 10, 1997, the official further said.

Replying to a question, the official said as there is an all India norm of providing only 12 percent of the power to the host State , no extra power, even if required would be given free of cost.

The Union Power Ministry has issued instructions to submit the report of the Public Hearing so that the necessary clearance could be taken from the Ministry of Forest and Environment to begin work on the project at the earliest possible, the official said.

The official further disclosed that out of the total power to be generated 600 megawatt would be provided to Assam, 200 Megawatt to Manipur and another 250 Megawatt to Tripura, and an agreement to this effect had been signed and signing of agreement with other States is under process Meanwhile, an official of Manipur Government said the State Assembly had already resolved to go ahead with the construction of Tipaimukh dam and accordingly went ahead with signing an MoU with NEEPCO.

The people living in the area to be affected by the project are, in fact, more than eager and forwarded various representations to the Government requesting to go ahead with the project definitely, the official claimed.

The State Government has already given all the necessary approval for going ahead with the project, the official said, adding that the meeting held between the Union Power Secretary and the State Chief Secretary at New Delhi recently had also decided to begin construction of the project within this year itself.

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