CM: Thoubal project will be completed by March 2011
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, March 29 2010: MANIPUR CHIEF Minister Okram Ibobi has said that the Thoubal Multi Purpose Project will be completed by March 2011 .

He said this to newspersons at Maphou in Senapati district, where the construction of Thoubal Multi Purpose Project, which will provide drinking water, irrigation and produce electricity of 7.5 MW, is going on in full swing.

The Chief Minister along with Minister of Irrigation and Flood Control Department, N Biren, MPCC president and MLA Gaikhangam, Chief Engineer of IFCD, Indrakumar and other officials today inspected the progress of the construction of the multi purpose project at Maphou.

Talking to newspersons during the visit, Chief Minister O Ibobi said that the authority is making plans to have the labourers work in three shifts-morning, afternoon and night in order to expedite the progress of the construction.

Thoubal Multi Purpose Project at Maphou under construction; CM O Ibobi, IFCD Minister N Biren, officials inspecting

The Chief Minister assured of providing adequate security for the labourers.

At present there are two companies of BSF, one company of IRB, an AR post and 21 VDF personnel protecting the project site.

The Chief Minister further said that due to various reasons, several major projects can not be completed.

The Planning Commission of India has given a strong directive to the state government to complete the Thoubal Multi Purpose Project, also known as Maphou dam first, then funds for other projects would be sanctioned.

Therefore, the state government is making all out efforts to complete the project as soon as possible, the Chief Minister said.

Once the Maphou dam is completed, the government would be able to complete other dams such as Khuga dam, Dolaithabi dam, Chakpi dam, etc.

Asserting that there are a number development projects to be taken up, the Chief Minister appealed to the people and the media to cooperate with the government in its efforts.

IFCD Minister N Biren told the newspersons that about 70 percent of the work of Maphou dam is completed.

As most of the work for construction of spillway and earth filling is over, the construction of the project is expected to be completed by March 2011 .

The government will provide the required security for the labourers to work without any disturbance or fear, he said.

Minister Biren further said that the main reasons for the inability of the project to be completed are land dispute, compensation, extortion demands from a number underground outfits, bandhs, blockades, killing of labourers, and so on.

Due to bandhs and blockades, there had been obstructions in bringing materials for construction from outside the state.

The Thoubal Multi Purpose Project was approved by Planning Commission in 1980 at the estimated cost of Rs 47.25 crore.

The latest estimated cost is Rs 982 crore.

Work started in 1982. The project will irrigate more than 33,000 hectares of agricultural land.

It will also provide 10 million gallons of drinking water to the greater Imphal areas per day.

It will produce 7.5 MW of electricity.

The Progressive Constructions Limited is implementing the construction of the project.

So far seven labourers had been killed by underground groups at the dam site.