Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 25 2010:
The Sericulture Project taken up with Japanese loan has run into serious trouble with the necessary fund for the second phase likely to be stalled, reportedly due to law and order situation of the State.
Incidentally, the Sericulture Project was one project which had ignited the hopes of the people of the State.
For the first phase of the project implemented at the cost of Rs 135.52 crores, the State Government has sent completion reports to the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India and the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA).
However, no Japanese representative came to the State to evaluate the completed phase of the project, informed a source.
First phase of the project initiated in July 1998 was completed last year.
Subsequently, the State Government with due permission from the Ministry of Textiles engaged a third party to inspect the project after which due reports were submitted.
With none of the JICA representatives willing to come here and evaluate the completed phase due to security reasons, State Government officials are apprehensive JICA may not sanction the necessary loan for the second phase.
An unconfirmed report said that the Japanese Government has decided not to sanction any more loans for the Manipur Sericulture Project.
Efforts of The Sangai Express to elicit comment from Sericulture Minister L Jayantakumar on the report proved futile.
Meanwhile, a meeting of the Foreign Investment Board held this morning with Chief Secretary DS Poonia in the chair deliberated on the Sericulture Project.
The meeting studied options of finding another source which can provide necessary loan to take up the second phase.
However, the meeting could not take any definite decision.
Notably, four kinds of silks��mulberry, Eri, Muga and oak tassar, are found in Manipur.