Tribal Market left in limbo after high profile inauguration
Sonia's magic fails to activate SPF
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 11 2011:
The Tribal Market complex inaugurated by AICC president Sonia Gandhi is unlikely to be ready for opening shops and markets within the current year.
Notably, Tribal Market complex which consists of Block A, Block B and Block C was inaugurated without constructing a planned community hall on the second floor of Block A .
Neither the necessary parking area was acquired by the Government before inaugurating the market complex.
As such, the market complex is still unable to render any service.
The Tribal Market complex located at New Lambulane was inaugurated by AICC president Sonia Gandhi in December last year along with the three Nupi Keithel complexes of Khwairamband.
At the time when the Tribal Market was inaugurated, many people were euphoric with the hope that the new market complex would provide a convenient place for street vendors who have been plying their trade in such places like Chingmeirong, Deulahland, Checkon etc.
One official of the Tribal Development Department informed The Sangai Express that the market complex was constructed at the cost of Rs 8.3 crores, out of which Rs 3.3 crores were sanctioned from Special Plan Assistance and Rs 5 crores sanctioned by Tribal Development.
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Construction of shopping stalls and vendors seats have been completed along with electrification.
Main factors which have been delaying allotment of seats to vendors and opening of shops are the proposed construction of community hall on the second floor of Block A which has not been initiated yet and absence of parking lot for which the necessary land has not been acquired till date.
As per the original design of the market complex, the community hall should be constructed on the first floor.
But the Government changed its mind and decided to allot vendor seats on first floor and construct the community hall on the second floor.
For this, the department is preparing a revised estimate of Rs two crores.
Moreover, demarcation has been completed to acquire 0.2855 acre of land near the entrance of the market complex for developing it as a parking lot.
Necessary reports have been sent to PWD for valuation of land and buildings.
However, a toilet complex constructed between Block C and proposed parking lot remains incomplete though the Government has plans to construct another toilet complex adjacent to Block A .
The market complex remains unusable because of the problems of community hall, parking lot and the toilets.
On the other hand, the Government has been considering to constitute a committee for management of the market complex, added the official.