IFC Minister debunks project-halt report
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 26 2013: Regardless of reports by newspapers that the Supreme Court-constituted national Green Tribunal has issued a directive to put on hold construction work of the Thoubal Multipurpose Project pending forest clearance, Irrigation and Flood Control (IFC) Minister Ngamthang Haokip insisted that no formal intimation on the Tribunal's directive has been received by the State Government.

Speaking to some newspersons at his New Secretariat office chamber today, the Minister charging a certain NGO of trying to scuttle the project also appealed for cooperation from every section of the society so that the people can reap the benefits at the earliest possible.

With the clearance from the Planning Commission the project work commenced from May 1, 1980 while the Forest Conservation Act 1980 was passed on october 25, recounted the IFC Minister adding that the project was initially targeted for completion in 1987 .

Ministerial team inspecting

Consequent to financial issues the Planning Commission on january 14, 1983 suggested that the project's dam and spillway components be put on hold and instead focus on the barrage and canal works subsequently resulting in the latter components able to irrigate 4000 hectares of paddy field, said Ngamthang.

The environment Clearance for the said project was approved on December 13, 2005 followed by the Ministry concerned giving the Forest Clearance for the project's Stage I on January 11, 2010, he explained further stating that project work likely to submerge about 559 acres forest land is yet to begin.

In addition to the State Government depositing Rs 6823.38 lakhs in a Central Government account for compensation related payments, including for afforestation, net percent value and catchment area treatment, Planning Commission's 17-point criteria has also been already complied with, said the Minister.

owing to financial constraints the Central Government was urged for relevant assistance for Thoubal Multi-purpose Project consequent to which the Centre in 2004 enlisted the project along with khuga and Dolaithabi projects for Central Government patronage under the Prime Minister's package with a 90:10 Centre-State ratio for the three projects.

Regarding Thoubal project's second phase, IFCD sought official approval from the Ministry of Environment and Forests through the State Forest Department on August 29 this year, confided the Minister.

While official procedures are being strictly complied with by the IFCD for expeditious completion of the project some unscrupulous elements forming an NGO approached the National Green Tribunal on March 16, 2013 with misleading information that the project be halted as it is yet to get the forest clearance, he expressed.

Based on the NGO's complaint the Tribunal's first hearing was conducted on August 16 followed by the second two days back (Sep 24) while the third is slated for october 7, Ngamthang informed.

As the project is yet to undertake any construction work that could affect forest land claims about the National green Tribunal directing stoppage of the project is not only ambiguous but seems to be yet another misinformation campaign as no official intimation has been received by the State Government, he reiterated.

While issues related to land and property compensation of some project-affected villages had already been resolved only property compensation of some other villages remains, Ngamthang conceded exuding confidence that the pending issues would also be resolved as the earliest as committee under the chairmanship of DC (Ukhrul) has already initiated relevant measures.

Moreover the Committee has been asked to file its report by next month, informed the Minister adding that requisite amount for settling the pending compensation has been earmarked.

He also appealed to all concerned to extend cooperation for early completion of the project would eventually mean benefit for the people in terms of irrigation, drinking water facility and power generation.