Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 13:
Even if the environmental survey/survey of the 66 megawatt capacity Loktak Downstream Project to be taken up as a joint venture of Government of Manipur and NHPC had been completed five years back, the environmental study of the project is to be taken up afresh.
Meanwhile, the State Government has proposed to the DoNER Ministry for providing requisite amount of fund of its matching share of the Project to the tune of Rs 100 crores from the NLCPR.
Disclosing this to The Sangai Express, a reliable source said the environmental study of the proposed 66 megawatt capacity Loktak Downstream Project for which foundation stone was laid by the then Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde is to be conducted all over again and NHPC has roped in the service of experts of Delhi University for the purpose.
The State Government has also proposed to the DoNER Ministry for providing its matching share of the project amounting to Rs 100 crores from NLCPR, the source disclosed, adding that the Power Department of the Government has also instructed all the departments concerned for taking up necessary measures for taking up the project from the State Government.
The State Govt has also send the draft proposal of the share holder agreement to be signed for the project which is to be taken up as a joint venture, the source confided.
On the otherhand, Union Ministry of Power has given the assurance on providing 43 megawatt of power from the 2000 megawatt power project being taken up at Lower Sabanshri of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to the State of Manipur by 2011 .
On the other hand, another reliable source said that although the State Power Department has effected load shedding in most part of the State including capital Imphal city, in Jiribam sub-division of Imphal East district, there is no load shedding with exception to just one and half hour once in the morning and once in the afternoon everyday.
For the rest of the day, there is no load shedding.