Imphal, March 17: Literally sounding the death knell of the much hyped Imphal Sewerage Project launched in collaboration with the French Govt, Chief Minister O Ibobi today informed the House that the project not only involves a huge amount of money to be borne by the State Govt but will also fall short on the utility front.

Answering a query raised by Thangmeiband AC MLA Meinam Bhorot, the Chief Minister said that the project was taken up after signing an MoU between the State Govt, Centre and the French Govt and added that since the State failed to look into the finer details of the project, the State Govt has to face a huge financial burden today.

Giving a clear picture of the situation, the Chief Minister said that the State Govt has to fork out as much as Rs 93 crores for the project while the share of the French Govt is Rs 41.54 crores.

The State's share equals the funds to be utilised by the PHED in both the hills and valley areas, added the Chief Minister.

Apart from the huge expenditure, the said project will cover only 30 percent of the total area of Imphal, said the Chief Minister.

The project is of not much use and the previous Govt must have signed the MoU without going through the finer details, he added.

As the State Govt is not in a position to fork out such a huge sum, it has approached the Centre and some other agencies to help it out, informed the CM further.

Earlier, PHED Minister Govindas Konthoujam while replying to the question raised by M Bhorot, said that France has completed 56 pc of its part of the project, while the State Govt has been able to complete only 15 pc of its part.

The MoU was signed in 1998-99 and the target to commission the project was 2006, the Minister said.

However the earlier target of completing the project in 2006 is not possible now, added Govindas.

The PHED Minister however assured the House that there is no plan as such to shelve the project at the moment.

Fishery : Stating that the SPF Government is keen on developing fish farms and encourage farmers and to produce a variety of fish, Fishery Minister N Mangi today informed the House that a number of fresh hatcheries have been installed to help rear fish fingerlings.

Replying to a question raised by Thanga AC MLA S Ibohal, the Minister said that plans are on to rear giant sized prawns in fresh water and for this the Centre is ready to release a sum of Rs 35 lakhs to instal a hatchery for the giant sized prawns.

Efforts are also on to revive the traditional species of cat fish found in the State and plans are on to install a hatchery for the indigenous cat fish.

The indigenous variety of cat fish has been disappearing from the water bodies of the State during the last few years.

Mangi further informed the House that with funding from the Centre plans are on to provide a number of welfare schemes to the fishing community of the State and this includes, housing scheme, drinking water scheme, constructing community hall and fishing equipments.

Insurance schemes for the fishing community has also been formulated, the Minister said adding that so far 221 fishermen have been covered under the insurance against snake bites and drowning in lakes.

The amount of the insurance is for a sum of Rs 50 thousand per head.

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