MI CE highlights farmer-oriented projects
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 07 2021: Minor Irrigation Department chief engineer H Brajendra has claimed that the department has been able to take up various projects for welfare of farmers under Central government schemes as well as with funding from NEC, NABARD and DoNER.

During an interaction with media persons at department's office at Lamphelpat, CE H Brajendra informed that various projects and schemes taken up by the department are progressing smoothly except for few projects which could not get work order due to delay in tendering process owing to COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the projects taken up include 375 Central schemes costing around Rs 235.08 crore for which first instalment fund for contractors and agencies had already been released.

The schemes that aim to provide benefit in around 9,681 hectares of paddy fields of the state are being targeted for completion by October, 2022 .

The department is also smoothly implementing construction of 550 wells under Centre's ground water scheme.

Apart from this, the department is taking up various projects under NEC, NABARD and DONER, he said, adding that the department has been taking key responsibility during the time of drought.

According to H Brajendra, the department is unable to take up projects/schemes under the state plan as the state lacks resources and most of the projects taken up currently are centrally sponsored schemes.

While dismissing the remark allegedly made by Sugnu MLA K Ranjit during a political conference that projects to be taken up by the department could not get work order until giving 10 percent commission of the project cost to the chief minister, H Brajendra said the department is able to take up projects at faster pace under the supervision of chief minister, who also holds minor irrigation portfolio.

It was very unfortunate that such irresponsible remarks have put the department and the chief minister on the wrong side, he said, adding that it would not be right to mislead people with baseless remark.

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