Khuga Project gets Investment Clearance
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 31 2012: An investment clearance amounting to Rs 34 crores for completion of remaining works of Khuga Multipurpose Project, which had already been inaugurated by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, was given by the Planning Commission today.

The Planning Commission, however, has provided a set of guidelines while sanctioning the said amount for the almost completed Khuga Multipurpose Project.

Accordingly, the remaining works of the project have to be completed in the financial year 2012-13, failing which the Plan accounts would be closed by March 31, 2013 .

According to reliable sources, the estimated cost of Khuga Multipurpose Project (Medium Revised) has been fixed at Rs 433.91 crores in accordance to the 2011 Price level.

As of now, an amount of Rs 399.99 crores has been utilized.

The project is to be executed as per the approved outlays in the State Annual Plan.

The State Finance would restrict the expenditures to the approved cost and no additional expenditures beyond the approved cost would be permitted unless the revised estimate gets approved following the prescribed procedure.

In case of any further cost revision, the Project would be debarred from AIBP funding.

It has been revealed that the project must seek the approval of the 'Command Area Development (CAD) Plan' from the Planning Commission.

The CAD works will also be executed concurrently with the project implementation so that the participation of the stake holder farmers is ensured right from the stage of project planning from implementation to maintenance.

This will ensure the outlay on the project is converted into enduring outcomes in the form of assured and sustainable irrigation benefits to the farmers.

Moreover, the pari-passu implementation of the project would be monitored by the Planning Commission, the sources added.

The Khuga Multipurpose Project was taken up way back in 1983 and has been left unattended for quite long.

The project was again taken up by the State Government in 2002 on a war footing and completed it in 2010.It was later inaugurated by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on November 12 the same year.

Although the project has been completed, inaugurated and handed over to the people, yet the left and right canal of Khuga Multipurpose Project is still not in the condition to drain water.

Over and above this, the project has not been able to generate electricity which is its major component.

Since the area where the canals of the project are to be constructed mainly comprise of soft sand, the embankment of the canals suffer frequent breaches.

To avoid further breaching of the embankment, the State Government decided to construct the canals under RCC method and the project proposal for the same was forwarded to the Planning Commission.

After deliberation over the project report, the Planning Commission has ultimately given the Investment Clearance.

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