CM searches sites for dumping phumdi
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 29 2011:
Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh today took a trip around the shores of the Loktak to find a place for dumping phumdi.Loktak is being cleaned under a project to save the lake.
Works minister K Ranjit, chairman of the Manipur Pollution Control Board, MLA E Dwijamani, MANITRON chairman, MLA Dr Kh Ratankumar and MLAs, T Mangibabu, M Prithivraj, I Ibohalbi, officials of the LDA and two officials of the K-Pro Private Limited were among others who accompanied the CM in the survey.
The LDA and the K Pro company have been facing a problem in searching dumping sites for phumdi.
The problem became more critical when a request from the K Pro company for allowing dumping the phumdi inside the Keibul Lamjao National Park was turned down by the forest department.
The department turned down the request citing that they could not give the permission without the consent of the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment as the park is under the protection of the Ministry.
Reports said that at the time of signing the contract for phumdi cutting, K Pro had agreed to dispose the phumdi at a distance not less than three km from the lake area.
However, later, the company insisted that the extra charge for transporting the phumdi should be borne by the LDA.
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The LDA rejected the proposal of the company and they had even appraised the government to stop the work.
In order to ease the controversy that erupted out of the dumping site and the bearing of transportation charge by LDA, Chief Minister had himself conducted the search for a dumping site, a source said.
Even though, the CM visited various places at Khordhak, Laphupat Tera, Komlakhong, etc.
to see a suitable dumping site for phumdi, the site could not be finalized and in further efforts to select a proper site, the Chief Ministerhas started consultations with the officials concerned, sources said.
During the visit, Ibobi also held interactions with the people residing at the shores of Loktak and listened to their grievances.
Among others, people urged the CM to provide safe drinking water.
After hearing their grievances, the CM assured that water supply schemes and healthcare centres will be constructed at suitable places.
He further assured of developing the areas around the lake as small towns.
Asserting that he knew the grievances of the people in and around the Keibul Lamjao National Park, the Chief Minister also promised of addressing their problems at the earliest.