HERICOUN for CBI probe
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 15 2012:
Ethno Heritage Council (HERICOUN) has said that the issue of handing over of Rs 224 crore Loktak Lake cleaning project to K Pro Infra Works Pvt Ltd must be investigated by the CBI.
In a press release, HERICOUN said that the recent expose by Tehelka magazine regarding the issue is not taken lightly by the Council.
According to a news report published in Volume 9 of October 20 issue of the news magazine, K-Pro Infra Works Pvt Ltd was registered on June 22, 2009, and being run from a residential flat in Delhi.
The press release added, with the publication of the said news report, there is strong apprehension in the minds of the people of the State that some persons are minting a huge amount of money in the name of cleaning of phumdis from the largest fresh water lake of the North East region.
Maintaining that many fishermen who were earning livelihood by residing on these floating biomass had been displaced for the said purpose by the Government, the press release added that HERICOUN was helpless with such forced evictions as the Council thought that the Government initiated the move with a determined objective to safe the lake which has close connection with the culture and tradition of Manipuri people.
The press release further said that the Government must reveal how K-Pro got the contract of the multi-crore project along with Hyderabad based Progressive Construction Ltd.
If the media report is right, Manipuri people must not allow the individuals with vested interest to earn a huge amount of money in the name of saving Loktak Lake, said the press release.
Saying that HERICOUN would also stand against such fraudulent activity, the press release urged the State Governor, political parties and organisations to put in effort in finding out the truth regarding the issue.