Tourism project fails to take off
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 06 2016: Even though the Ministry of Tourism sanctioned Rs 96.14 lakh for construction of an integrated tourist destination at Kotsophai village under Chakpikarong sub-division of Chandel district in August 2013, and the Kotsophai village donated 25 acres for the same purpose, nothing has been initiated till date to execute the project.

The total estimated cost of the integrated tourist destination which has around 11 different components is Rs 24 crore approximately out of which 20 per cent should be funded by the Centre through Central Financial Assistance.

For execution of the project, Rs 96.14 lakh was released as first instalment in August 2013.The amount was deposited with the Manipur Development Society (MDS) which is the implementing agency of the project.

Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Tourism said that the project should be implemented without undue delay so as to avoid escalation in project cost.

The Ministry also directed the Government to ensure that the tourist destination can be commissioned within 12 months counting from the date the project was sanctioned.

The guidelines also made it clear that the State Government should be held accountable if there is escalation in the project cost on account of failure to implement it in time.

After the first instalment of Rs 96.14 lakh was released, a meeting was held with Kotsophai village chief Yangchung Haokip on November 17, 2013 in search of the required land.

The meeting which was attended by 29 households of Kotsophai village agreed to donate land required for development of the integrated tourist destination at their village.

After village chief Yangchung Haokip donated 25 acres of land, a land availability certificate was issued by the SDO Chakpikarong on December 3, 2013 .

The SDO also issued no-encumbrance certificate as well as scheduled of land certificate on the same day.

Subsequently, on January 10, 2014, the Chandel DC submitted scheduled of land certificate, non-encumbrance certificate, land availability certificate and land donation certificate as recorded in the meeting proceeding of November 17, 2013 were submitted to the Principal Secretary (Tourism) along with a sketch map of the site where the tourist destination should be developed.

However, nothing has been done till date to implement.

As such, there is a strong likelihood of lodging a complaint to the Ministry of Tourism, informed a source.

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