Dimapur, September 15: Sericulture Minister N Mangi Singh has categorically stated that the success of Japan Government funded Sericulture Project in Manipur lies in the hands of the farmers who constitute the Field Operating Units (FOUs).

He was addressing as chief guest of the awareness programme on the Project Formulation held at Kalimai Mandop today.

The Minister said the project, which is estimated to cost Rs 400 crores has great prospect.

It would provide employment opportunity to around 30,720 people.

However, the success of the project is in the hands of the farmers who are Field Operating Units.

Asking why shouldn�t the Project be successful in Manipur while it has been successfully implemented in Japan, Mangi noted that if the officials concerned and the FOUs worked with a sense of dedication and dedication there is no reason why the Project would not be successful in Manipur.

Though Japanese people have suffered untold miseries in the aftermath of twin atomic bombing during Second World War, they have made the country one of the most developed ones today because of their hard work and sincerity, he observed.

The Minister also said that he would keep a close tab on the progress of the Project with frequent inspection trips to the site of the project to ensure its success.

He further informed that 25 percent of the fund released this time would be kept aside for the FOUs.

In his presidential address, Director of Sericulture Department S Debabarta said that some bureaucrat officials allegedly tried to stall the project during the stint of President�s Rule in 2001.Now all the difficulties have been overcome and by 2005 the progress of the project would be visible to all, he said.

FOU, Khurkhul president Sanaton Devi who attended the function as guest of honour also spoke at the occasion.

The presidents of the FOUs in the nine districts, District Sericulture Officers, District Project Co-ordinators and officials of the Sericulture Department were also present at the function.

�Fund misused�: The Thongjao Makha Leikai Social Welfare Club has alleged that an amount of Rs 8,86,770 sanctioned under the scheme of SGRY during 2001-02 for the welfare of ST/SC people in Waikhong Gram Panchayat has been misappropriated by the pradhan in connivance with some other people.

In a statement made available to the press, Club president Sh Ishingchaoba Singh has appealed to the authorities concerned to investigate into the matter.

Power Minister�s remark irks CCDD: Citizens Concern for dams and Development (CCDD) has expressed strong reservation against the statement made by Power Minister Gaikhangam who asserted that the dam would be constructed and those oppo- sing to the project failed to reflect the view of the people residing in the dam site area.

In a statement CCDD chairman RK Ranjan said that the statement of the Minister was irresponsible and a blatant failure to respect the sentiments, wishes and aspirations of the people of the State, especially those residing in the proposed dam site area.

These people have been consistently maintaining a rigid stance to safeguard their land and resources as their only source of survival and livelihood, RK Ranjan said.

The statement iterated that various submissions made to all concerned have clearly stated that the process for construction of the dam failed to take free, prior and informed consent of the people and it would lead to loss of rich natural resources besides threatening the physical and spiritual survival of the indigenous people.

It is regrettable that the State Government and NEEPCO, the implementing agency has failed to respond to the submissions.

The statement Government should also respect the recommendations of the World Commission on Dams for adopting a development based on the respect of rights, valuing equity and sustainability, RK Ranjan said in the statement.

Deplorable road: Highlighting on the deplorable condition of road Wangkhei-Yairipok Road stretch whose repairing works have been stalled for so long, Naharol Sintha Kanglup, Wangkhei Keithel Ashangbi has drawn the attention of the authority concerned into the matter.

Meanwhile, Network for Social Upliftment, Wangkhem has flayed the MLA of Wangkhem Assembly Constituency and EE of PWD, Thoubal for not implementing the memorandum of understanding signed with regard to cons truction/repairing of the road from Yairipok to Thoubal.

Such negligence on the part of the elected representative and the responsible Government official would only invite the wrath of the people, Network general secretary Md Iliyas Khan said in a release.

It may be noted here that the people of the area have launched various form of agitation demanding improvement of the road stretch.

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