Bamboo machines lie waste and rusted
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 03 2012: A number of primary bamboo processing machines which were provided to NGOs by the Commerce and Industries Department have been found lying in waste and rusted.

This was discovered by the Public Accounts Committee of Manipur Legislative Assembly during an inspection tour of Common Facilities Centres (CFCs) in Imphal West and Churachandpur districts today.

The inspection team which also included officials of Commerce and Industries Department was led by PAC Chairman L Ibomcha and MLA K Thamarjit.

Primary bamboo processing machines were provided to Social Integration and Rural Development Agency, an NGO based at Lamban Makha Leikai about two years back.

One Th Inaocha is secretary of the NGO.

Several primary processing machines for cross cutting, splitting, knot removal, slicing etc to convert bamboo into raw materials for handicraft and furniture making industrial units, house construction etc were provided to the NGO.

But all the machines were found laying rusted and wasted in the open without any care.

Even though a shed was built for keeping the machines, there was no roof.

While admitting that the machines were provided by Commerce and Industries Department about two years back, Inaocha said that no training was given to operate the machines.

For operating these machines, high voltage electric power was needed but no such facility was available in the area.

For all these reasons, the machines could not be put to any use.

In Churachandpur district, similar machines were given to Tribal Areas bamboo Research and Development Foundation, an NGO based at New Lamka, Church Road.

According to Tualnuam village secretary Khuala Vaiphei, the machines were kept in a new building which was constructed with assistance from Churachandpur DC.

He also cited absence of trained operators and non-availability of adequate power for keeping the machines idle for the last two years.

Primary bamboo processing machines given to the NGOs included bamboo external knot removing cum skin finishing machine, bamboo slicing machine, bamboo internal knot removing machine, cutter sharpening machine, bamboo round slicing machine, bamboo square stick making machine, bamboo square stick making machine (manual), bamboo stick polishing machine, bamboo stick sizing machine and manual splitter (grill) machine.

One set of these machines costs Rs 9,63,664, and three such sets were given to the two NGOs of Imphal West, Churachandpur and Tamenglong district at the total cost of Rs 29 lakhs.

Additional Director (Commerce and Industries) V Toulthang admitted many of the machines given to the three NGOs have become inoperative due to prolonged disuse.

Nevertheless, the Tamenglong based NGO has started utilising the machines.

PAC Chairman L Ibomcha said that they would inspect the Tamenglong NGO too.

He gave a period of 15 days to Commerce and Industries officials to submit a detailed report about the failure of the particular scheme so that due responsibility can be fixed.

MLA Thamarjit highlighted the need to give training to the NGOs for operating the machines.

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