Solid waste plant ready for service
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 18 2014 : Plans are afoot to inaugurate and com-mission the Solid Waste Ma- nagement Plant being cons-tructed at Lamdeng, stated Chief Minister O Ibobi on the floor of the State Assembly today.

Stating that dirty effluents and polluted water drawn up from drains are being released into Imphal river at Thumbuthong, Dr I Ibohalbi raised a call attention motion seeking attention of the Forest and Environment Minister.

Joining the debate, Chief Minister O Ibobi asserted that the solid waste management plant being constructed at Lamdeng is ready to be commissioned.

The Government is working to take a decision on whether Imphal Municipal Council should be entrusted the tasks of operation and maintenance of the plant or a private party should be hired.

Once the plant is commissioned, staff working there would not be allowed to go on strike.

That is why, the Government is considering to whom the duty of operation and maintenance of the plant should be entrusted.

A view of the Lamdeng solid waste plant

Environment and Forest Minister Th Debendra maintained that officials of his Department and Manipur Pollution Control Board were sent to Thumbuthong and they found that no waste materials or dirty effluents were drained into Imphal river there.

Effluents and waste materials drawn up from the road side drain of Yumnam Leikai were buried near Thumbu-thong after digging the river bank.

Although some of the effluents seeped into the river, it did not cause any pollution.

Major rivers of Manipur valley were monitored by MPCB and they reported that none of the rivers were polluted beyond the permissible limit, Debendra stated.

Responding to a call attention motion raised by Th Shyamkumar about encroachment in border areas, Ibobi maintained that the Government took serious note of encroachment by Myanmar and the issue was taken up with the Government of India with due seriousness.

Manipur sector of the Indo-Myanmar border is being jointly surveyed by the two countries and the border fencing work is being suspended awaiting settlement of the border row.

Regarding inter-State border disputes, people living in the border areas have been keeping a close vigil.

The State Government would not compromise even an inch of its territory, Ibobi asserted.