MSME Tech Centre "vulnerable" to river bank erosion
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 12 2023:
The Rs 63 crore newly constructed office building of the MSME Technology Centre inside Nilakuthi Food Park in Imphal East district is becoming more and more vulnerable to river bank erosion, said sources.
The centre is situated on the bank of Imphal river, and major erosions in two places have threatened it.
Further erosion may damage the centre complex, they said.
Built under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), the ready to be inaugurated building of the MSME Technology Centre will house machinery and equipment to be used in making perfume and medicine from aromatic and medicinal plants.
The newly built building has units that will house a food processing unit, value addition, and quality assessment laboratory etc.
While encouraging and improving micro, small and medium enterprises, the centre is envisioned to impart technological knowledge and skill training to people for income generation and to generate employment.
The construction was taken up in 2021-22 .
While there is a retaining wall, it has been damaged partly and is in a vulnerable condition due to large erosions in two places.
The retaining wall is tilted towards the river bed.
The erosion threatening the complex was reported to the authorities concerned of the State Government last year, but no concrete steps have been taken up till today, said the sources.
They said on June 15, 2022, the Ministry of MSME's Additional Secretary and Development Commissioner, Shailesh Kumar Singh had written to Chief Secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar urging the State Government to carry out the repair work of the retaining while the Ministry bears the costs.
Further, on April 24, 2023, the Ministry's Additional Secretary and Development Commissioner Dr Rajneesh sent a reminder to Chief Secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar for the State Government to start the repair work.
On August 10, 2023, Deputy Secretary Sunanda Thokchom directed the Water Resources Commissioner and Works Secretary to initiate works to repair the retaining wall.
Following this, engineers of the Water Resources Department visited and inspected the site, the sources said.
Notably, in 2022, Union Minister of MSME Narayan Rane had visited the centre in Nilakuthi and expressed his desire to inaugurate the newly built building in April 2023, they added.