Imphal, November 28: Following the listing of Loktak Downstream Project in the developmental projects announced by the Prime Minister during his recent visit to the State, the authority of the National Hydro Electric Corporation (NHPC), the implementing agency, has demanded adequate security measures for the project to take off.

Speaking to The Sangai Express a top ranking officer of the State Power Department said that a meeting will be held soon between the Union Home Ministry and the State Government to discuss the security requirements for the NHPC to take up the project.

The new development comes even as the State Government has evinced an interest to take up the project itself.

NHPC was earlier entrusted with the task of the taking up the project but it could not take off as the compensation to be paid to the displaced persons was too high.

The Corporation had also demanded adequate security from the State Govt and had even stated that the project was not economically viable.

NHPC had also proposed that the State Govt purchase its share of the power generated.

All these had hindered the smooth take off of the project.

The Loktak Downstream Project was included amongst the projects identified by the then NDA Government in its stated objective to generate 50,000 MW of power across the country.

Plans were on for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to lay the foundation stone of the project during his recent visit here, but that was aborted at the last minute due to some technical hitches.

To enable the PM to lay the foundation stone, a high level meeting was held on November 4 at New Delhi between officials of the Union Home Ministry, NHPC, Power Finance Corporation and representatives of the State Power Department and Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh.

The meeting however did not yield any positive results as the price of power per unit, as estimated by NHPC, in the light of the huge compensation, came out to about Rs 6/7, said the source.

The other demands of NHPC, including adequate security arrangements were also discussed at the meeting.

A probable meeting between officials of the Union Home Ministry and State Government at a later date was also discussed at the meeting.

For the meeting to materialise, the State Government has to despatch a written intimation to the Union Home Ministry, said the source adding that the State Govt has taken up the necessary procedures to submit the written intimation.

To meet the demands of the NHPC that approach roads including the road from Toupul to Thangal Downside Power house be built, the construction of the said roads has been included in the State Plan of the NEC.

The estimated cost of the Project is Rs 400 crores of which 50 pc will be forwarded as grants by the Centre, while the remaining 50 pc will be forwarded as loans.

The Centre has already agreed to this proposal.

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