Imphal, July 05 2010: With a view to improve economy condition of the state, government is planning to set up a bamboo processing unit at the same place where a failed bamboo chipping plant located in Jiribam and an Urban Haat Art and Craft complex at Lamboi Khongnang Makhong in Imphal west district, official source said.

The bamboo processing unit is to be set up to an area of 15 acre of land presently occupied by the defunct state Bamboo Chipping Plant at Kadamtala in Jiribam sub-division of Imphal east district.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Bamboo Chipping Plant was set up with Manipur Industrial Corporation Limited as implementing agency with the objective of earning high income by selling the product to the Hindustan Paper Mill, Silchar in Assam.

But it was closed down allegedly unable to manage properly.

A source from the state commerce and industries department said that the bamboo processing plant is to be set up with share funding from the North Eastern Council (NEC) and Manipur government.

NEC will share a fund amounting to Rs 521.06 lakh while the state will bring out Rs 57.90 lakh as state share.

A project proposal (DPR) has been submitted to the NEC and response of the council is yet to receive.

A detail Draft Proposal Report (DPR) will be furnished at the earliest and as soon as the approval is received, the ground work will be commenced, the source maintained.

Taking into account the resources of the state, government is planning to develop Bamboo Technology Park in two phases.

In the first phase, buildings for infrastructure installation will be constructed to an area of 7 acre.

After the completion of first phase works, interested entrepreneurs will be selected and sign memorandum of understanding with them for payment of occupation fees and hand over the park.

Annual management charge will be imposed for the maintenance of the park.

The fee is to be taken for the same sake only, the source added.

The Urban Hat Art and Craft Complex to be set up at Lamboi Khongnang Makhong which would be first of its kinds in the state will use as centre for holding exhibitions of Crafts, Food and Culture.

It will be named as Thoibi Haat.

It is to be taken up with the funding from the Union ministry of Textiles under its Urban Haat scheme.

It will be constructed an area of 4.15 acre.

Manipur Handloom and Handicraft Development Corporation will be the implementing agency.

All the necessary project proposals have been furnished to the ministry concern said officials who asserted that the complex is to be taken up with the objective of providing facilities of direct reaching of art and craft products to the people.

Not only the indigenous textiles, art and craft products, but also the a place for displaying and selling products of the same kinds from outside the state.

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