Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, December 10:
While the Governor-in-council has approved the draft memorandum of understanding to be signed with the Centre for the construction of the Tipaimukh Dam, the state administration intends to put up several preconditions before the MoU is signed, according to reliable sources.
These preconditions were decided upon by the Governor in Council during the same meeting held on December 7 in which the draft MoU was approved, the sources said.
The MoU is to be signed between the state government and the NEEPCO.
Among other things, the state administration will be asking the union home ministry to bear the expenditure on security for the project, as it was felt that loading the cost of security on the project would lower the ranking of the project while pushing up the per unit cost of power.
It was also decided to urged that the cost of diversion of NH-53 and NH-150 would be posed for funding by the union ministry of road transport and highways, so that the per unit cost of power will be reduced.
Further, it was decided that efforts should be made to convince the union water resources ministry to pay the cost of the flood control component as this will also reduce per unit cost of power and improve the ranking of the project.
On the other hand, many sections of the public are opposed to taking a hasty decision on the controversial Tipaimukh project, and have opined that the contents of the draft MoU should be placed before the public for open debate and criticism.