Imphal, January 15: Thanks to State Government apathy and lack of initiative by the contractor concerned, the March deadline set for commissioning of the Gas Bottling Plant at Sekmai would remain a mirage.

While Government is yet to complete development of the approach road to the plant site and provide electricity, contractor assigned with construction task remains ineffective.

When this reporter met Resident Engineer of the main supervisor of the plant Project and Development India Ltd (PDIL) AC Dwivedi, he said despite deposits made by the company months ago pertaining to power supply to the plant, Government department is yet to fulfill it.

With construction activities assigned separately to three contractors of the State only land development, security bar-rack and entrance gate have been completed, the Engineer said while 75 percent of the plant building and equipment foundation related constructions have been completed.

The third contractor with the bulk of the construction activities comprising of non-plant building construction, roads, drainage and fencing could complete only 20 percent, he lamented.

The estimated cost of the 53.26 acres plant is Rs 27 crores, disclosed Dwivedi while hastening to add that inspite of repeated pleas by the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and PDIL to the State Government for expediting the construction no concrete measures have been adopted from own their side.

He also expressed apprehension of undesired repercussion as the contract deadline had lapsed on September last.

The Resident Engineer deplored the fact that State Government has failed to comply with the commitment of developing the 800 metre long approach road from the National Highway 39 to the plant site.

Attributing the delay to Government's inadequate payment for the contractors, the official desired necessary attention to complete the road before the monsoon season sets in.

Regarding the power supply, Dwivedi remarked that deposit amounting to Rs 8.5 lakhs have already been made to the State Power Department in December 2001 and failure to provide the same is crippling construction activities.

The PDIL had even purchased and installed a 630 KV transformer at the site but is laying idle as power connection to it is non-existent, he charged.

Citing lackadaisical attitude of State Government for measures to ensure adequate water supply for production purpose and contain outbreak of fire, Dwivedi said Government authorities have been intimated for a pipeline from the Leimakhong Sana Lokchao till the plant.

Considering the nature of the plant and indispensability of huge water supply throughout the year, he urged the State Government for undisturbed supply of water, power and security at the plant site.

With around 14,000 metric tonnes required annually to meet the consumers' demand, the Sekmai plant will be capable of producing 10,000 MT gas in a single shift with double the amount in double shifts per year, the Engineer exuded confidence and added that supply shortage could be addressed adequately.

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