Land for NIT campus allotted in 2014-15 : Ibobi
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 07 2026: Close on the heels of Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand's announcement that necessary land for setting up a permanent campus of National Institute of Technology (NIT), Manipur will be allotted within Kakching Assembly Constituency, former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi has claimed that 342.5 acres were allotted way back to the NIT Manipur in 2014-15 for setting up its permanent campus.

Speaking to media persons at Congress Bhavan, BT Road here today, Ibobi said that the Central Government approved the establishment of NIT Manipur on September 17, 2009 .

Soon after the UPA Government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gave the approval, the then Congress Government in the State worked really hard to set up NIT, Manipur.

Under a temporary arrangement, NIT Manipur commenced its first session on August 2, 2010 at Government Polytechnic, Takyel, Ibobi said.

Later, the Congress Government acquired 341.5 acres of land at Langol, including both Khashland and private land, and handed them over to NIT Manipur for setting up its permanent campus .

The incumbent Government's decision to allot land and create a new permanent campus of NIT Manipur which already has a permanent campus at Langol sounds illogical, Ibobi remarked.

Ibobi went on to ask if the NIT Manipur's campus at Langol is not large enough or unsuitable.

Even if the BJP Government thinks that the present campus of NIT Manipur is a low-lying area, the institute has been there for the last 15-16 years and there was no complaint all these years, he said.

The former Chief Minister said that the State Government cannot impose its whims on any institute set up under the Central Government.

There are certain terms and conditions which must be fulfilled like whether the location selected for such an institute infringes upon reserved forests, whether it has proper communication facilities, whether there are medical facilities in the nearby areas etc, he said.

There are Shija Hospital and RIMS close to the present campus of NIT Manipur and there are many transport facilities, Ibobi said.

The State Government has been developing a big water body at Lamphelpat.

Mud and sludge drawn out or dug up from the water body are being piled within and around the NIT campus.

This is one major factor for keeping the campus wet and sloughy, he said.

If the BJP Government is thinking that the then Congress Government allotted land for NIT Manipur in a low-lying area, it should look at Shija Hospital which has built multi-storeyed buildings just beside the NIT campus.

The people of Manipur would have appreciated the Government had it brought a new National institute to the State instead of searching for a new permanent campus of NIT Manipur, Ibobi said.

He also questioned the BJP Government's failure to complete the Jiribam-Imphal railway project, the foundation stone of which was laid by late Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh way back in 2006 .

Former Education Minister M Okendro said that the existing buildings of NIT Manipur are not permanent structures.

For construction of permanent structures, 50-100 pillars with piles that went as deep as 30 metres have already been constructed in the elevated section of NIT Manipur's campus near Langol Hills, Okendro said.

After signing an agreement between NIT Manipur and CPWD, Rs 83.5 crore was deposited with CPWD and the latter had started construction of permanent structures, he said.

The existing buildings were constructed under a temporary arrangement so that classes could commence.

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