Imphal, August 31 2010: The state will have an inland water transport system as work for opening three inland waterway routes in Loktak Lake, the only fresh water lake in the North East, has begun.

State Transport Department has entrusted the Loktak Development Authority (LDA) as the nodal agency for construction of four jetties and three terminal buildings for opening the three inland waterways in Loktak Lake connecting Mayang Imphal-Thanga-Toubul-Ningthoukhong, an official source said Tuesday.

The project of construction of jetties and terminal buildings are to be taken up in the first phase of the Inland Water Transport System project under the central sponsored scheme which was sanctioned during 2009-10, the source disclosed.

The opening of the inland waterways transport system is one of the projects undertaken by the state Transport Department towards improving the transport system in the state.

The department is currently on a hectic engagement open night landing facilities at Imphal Airport, expansion of Imphal Airport, construction of Jiri-Tupul Imphal railway line, etc among others.

Apart from expansion and provisions of night landing facilities at Imphal Airport, separate projects taken up by the department include setting it up as the nodal agency for the Civil Aviation and Airport Authority of India (AAI) in the state.

For expansion of Imphal airport to the standard of an international airport, the AAI is demanding 689.88 acres of land including land for expansion of the runway from the existing 9900 ft to 12,000 ft.

So far 644 acres of land has been acquired by the state government and handed over to AAI leaving a balance of 45.88 acres, the source maintained.

The existing area of land occupied by Imphal Airport is 462 acres, out of which 245 acres belongs to the Ministry of Defence.

The same is yet to be transferred to AAI, it added.

Government had incurred a sum of Rs 81.78,83,338 in the payment of compensation to acquired lands till March 31, 2010.A sum of Rs 10.80 crores has also been allotted under the state plan during the current 2010-11 for meeting the expenditure to be incurred for construction of roads affected by the airport expansion, payment of additional compensation including standing crops.

A rehabilitation package has also been formulated by the state government for benefitting the affected villages by way of allotment of land at prorata basis for construction of a model village on the western foot hills of Nongbam-Hiyangthang Hills with dedicated facilities like construction of road infrastructure, drinking water supply and electrification, etc.

Erection of the pucca fencing and expansion works will be carried out by the AAI after compensation that for standing crops are fully paid to the affected pattadars.

The villagers will then vacate their present land holdings, the source added.

For providing night landing facilities, being a nodal agency for Civil Aviation and AAI in the state, the transport department has already installed Solar Powered Obstruction Light (SPOL) on top of the hills at Langjing, Chingphu, Heibokching, Phunal Maring and Baruni Hill with provisions of adequate security at the said places, it added.

Others projects include computerized passenger reservation system for convenience of railway commutors, national highway accident relief service scheme, issuance of smart card driving license and RC book, pollution testing scheme, construction of inter-state bus terminus at Imphal, Churachandpur and Jiribam and public amenities at Jiribam for the drivers and workers of NH-53 bound trucks, tankers, buses, bullet tankers, etc.

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