Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 19:
The Manipur Government has proposed to the North Eastern Council (NEC) for allocation of Rs 7807.81 lakhs from the NE funding agency�s 2004-05 annual plan outlay.
Of the proposed amount a sizable sum of Rs 738.09 lakhs would be utilized in bamboo rehabilitation and re-plantation project in Tamenglong district where rodents have caused widespread devastation of bamboo plants.
According to press sources, the proposal was placed by the State Planning Department�s Commissioner A Luikham to the North Eastern Council Secretary also detailing the proposed amount for utilization in various developmental projects in Manipur.
The fund proposal reminded the North Eastern Council of State�s earlier intimation on destruction caused by the rodent menace on food crops after the phenomenon of flowering of bamboo plants through most part of the district.
The other sectors cited in the proposal pertains to funding for implementation of the �Perspective Plan for development of Tourism in Manipur� prepared by experts of project Engineers Guwahati for the tenth Plan period and renovation and upgrading JN Hospital including increasing the number of existing beds to 500.The amount proposed for the two mentioned projects and five other schemes is Rs 687.72 lakhs.
Under the forest and plant resource scheme proposals was made to earmark Rs 500 lakhs for preservation of the North East region�s largest fresh water source - Loktak Lake.
Integrated Agriculture Development covers Rs 376 lakhs of the proposed amount while horticulture development and rejuvenation of citrus fruits concerns Rs 40 lakhs.
To prevent and control annual floods the proposal mentioned earmarking Rs 138.64 lakhs for completion/commencement of Thoubal River Food Control Scheme; Rs 136.84 lakhs for Imphal River Flood control Scheme Phase-I, Kongba confluence and Rs 145.50 lakhs from Minuthong till Singjamei; Rs 30 lakhs for Tarang River flood control; Rs 29.02 lakhs for Kongba River flood control scheme; and Rs 20 lakhs for the iril River flood control scheme, elaborated the source.
The sectors of fund allocation concerns Rs 20 lakhs for survey and investigation of Chakpi Basin water to loktak lake; investigation of Irang Hydro electric Project - Rs 24.25 lakhs; Tuivai hydro electric project - Rs 62 lakhs; and Resighat Jiri irrigation project - Rs 50 lakhs, cited the source as being included in the proposed plan.
Industries, trade, commerce, tourism and mineral would require Rs 780.87 lakhs; transport and communication - Rs 2037.50 lakhs; and power generation - Rs 440 lakhs, further added the source.