Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, December 21:
The Tata Engineering Research Institute, TERI, is to be commissioned as consultant for a new project for conservation and development of Loktak Lake, while survey work for laying the proposed Jiribam to Imphal railway line s to begin from next year.
These and other decisions were taken at a meeting of high level state and central officers today at Bigyan Bhavan Annexe at New Delhi.
The state team was led by chief secretary Rakesh, and included principal secretary (planning) DS Poonia and resident commissioner P Sarat Singh, while the central team was led by Dr PD Shenoy, secretary, department of development of the northeast, and included high level officials from a number of central ministries.
According to reliable sources, the meeting decided to initiate a new project for conservation and development of the Loktak Lake, with TERI as consultant.
TERI is to be asked to compile the project detailed report in this regard.
The state government has also asked the Centre for a grant of Rs 1 crore for the project.
The sources added that after detailed discussion on the development of infrastructure of the border town of Moreh, the Central government officials have assured sanction of an amount of Rs 3.20 crores for the purpose.
It was also assured that survey work for the proposed Jiribam to Imphal railway line should commence in January 2002 and end by February 2003.The central officials have also assured provision for proper Loktak Downstream and Tipaimukh dam projects, and expressed desire that the states of Manipur, Mizoram and Assam should sign the MoU for construction of the dam with NEEPCO at the earliest.