Loktak Downstream Affected People's Welfare Assn lauds MoU
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 02 2020:
The Loktak Downstream Affected People's Welfare Association (LDAPWA) has lauded the political will taken up for the coveted Loktak Downstream Hydro Electric Power Project at Taosang Khunou and Longjang (Thangal) village in Noney district.
The MoU signed between the Government of Manipur and HNPC on August 31, 2020 is a milestone for the BJP led Government in the State, said a release of the association.
"This association lauds the spirit of development on the part of the Chief Minister Biren Singh and Power Minister Th Biswajit Singh.
"It has been 45 years now since the survey work was started in 1975 for a 90 MW LDHEP a byproduct of 110 MW Loktak Hydro Electric Project at Komkeirap" .
The then Union Power Minister, Shushil Kumar Shinde laid the foundation stone for the project colony at Goubangjang landscape of Longjang village and the proposed dam to be constructed over Leimatak Apin river at Taosang Khunou sometime in 2004, it further said.
The project has been reduced from 90 MW to 66 MW.
It is interesting to note that notification under section-IV of the Land Acquisition Act had been issued four times due to lapses in the past four decades without proceeding further, it said.
The successive State Governments failed to start the said project even as the National Hydro Electric Power Corporation LTD (NHPC) impatiently awaited the requirement and commitment due from the State which never came for the project to take lift, it said.
The State Government under N Biren Singh has shown a certain ray of hope for the people, it said.
The initial plan and project had been made by Prof Gangmumei Kamei during his University days and shaped the DPR during his time as a Minister concerned affecting the worksite.
The then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpyee and the then Chief Minister of Manipur, Nipamacha Singh deserved appreciation for the great venture, it continued.
In those later stages the successive Governments neglected the promising project.
The committee also lauded the strong effort on the part of the NHPC officials namely Amitabh Srivastav and his executive officers of the LDHCL and Priyokumar Singh, Managing Director, MSPDCL for the latest development.
The committee also expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "Sab Ka Saad, Sab Ka Vikas" and Union Power Minister Raj Kumar Singh for the approval of the said project in public interest.