Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 31 2009:As the Government of Manipur has failed to refund an amount of Rs 1 crore, which the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) had deposited earlier for land acquisition, to set up a gas bottling plant at Malom area, the oil corporation is having second thoughts over depositing money for the proposed construction of Rail Fed Oil Depot.
According to a reliable source, prior to setting up of the present gas bottling plant at Sekmai, IOC had signed an agreement with the then United Front Government for taking up the project at Malom area.
Accordingly, the Government also initiated the process of acquiring around 20 acres of land in Malom area.
When the Government had asked for depositing around Rs 1 crores for payment of compensation, as the land proposed to be acquired were mostly private land, IOC had complied and deposited the said amount.
However, apprehensive of possible loss in case of any major disaster, the public opposed the gas bottling plant at Malom area even as some land owners filed a case in the Court.
Following such oppositions, IOC finally gave up the plan of setting up the gas bottling plant at Malom area and subsequently shifted to Awang Sekmai where the public are more co-operative.
The gas bottling plant had been set up at Awang Sekmai after the IOC purchased the required land from their owners.
But the Government of Manipur is yet to refund the earlier deposited amount of Rs 1 crore.