New Delhi, December 6 (MIC): Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh called on Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region Dr. Jitendra Singh on Friday and invited him to visit Manipur for an on the spot assessment of the diverse range of problems in Manipur.
During the meeting, the Manipur Chief Minister brought to his notice the pending power projects in the State.
He said `One important project for installation of 2×12.5 MVA 132/33 KV Sub-station at Moreh along with associated 132 KV line at an estimated cost of Rs.42.44 crore has also been retained by your Ministry at a cost of Rs.37.00 crore during 2013-14. I am told that the technical vetting of the project has also been completed and the project is now ripe for sanction. This project is necessary to enable supply of power from Moreh to Tamu ( Myanmar ) as part of our International obligations and as desired by the Government of Myanmar.`
The Chief Minister informed him that the State had been utilising the NLCPR funds mainly for power sector which was one of the thrust areas of the Government. In the absence of any Central Sector scheme to meet the investment requirements of transmission sector within the State, funds under NLCPR helped the State in meeting some of the critical gaps in the sector.
Accordingly for 2014-15 also, he added that the topmost priority for sanction under NLCPR had been accorded to transmission projects namely Construction of 400 KV Line on D/C (Double Circuit towers initially charged at 132 KV from Yurembam to Thoubal via Nambol amounting to Rs. 136.76 Crore and Construction of 400/132/33 KV Sub-station at Thoubal amounting to Rs.140.49 Crore, for which detailed project reports have been submitted to DoNER for their approval and sanction.
Apprising him that with the monsoons having ended and the working season in Manipur having started, it would be opportune for the State to start the works soon; the Chief Minister urged the Union Minister to take an early positive decision on the proposals.
Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent) for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Prime Minister`™s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, assured the Chief Minister that he had already released funds for the on-going projects and would also issue instructions for pre-sanction release of funds for them.