IMPHAL, May 19: The ongoing construction work of the Civil Secretariat is likely to be completed before the State Assembly election which is due either in the beginning of next year or the last part of the current year.
However, the date of completion as agreed between the State Government and Simplex Project which has been constructing the Civil Secretariat has already lapsed, said a source in the State PWD.
Main structures of the Civil Secretariat have been already completed but the finishing touches are yet to be given.
With the Government expected to complete the complex before the State Assembly election, the construction work has been accelerated.
Notably, foundation stone for the Civil Secretariat was laid in 2010 before the construction work started in the last part of 2011.
Although Simplex Project made good progress in the beginning, the pace slowed down on account of several factors such as financial constraints on the part of Simplex Project, non-release of necessary funds in time by the Government of India during 2014-15 etc.
Majority of the labourers engaged in the construction works are non-local people. Local labourers are also engaged in the same work but their pace and commitment are incompatible with their non-local colleagues which led to deceleration in the work progress.
Contd froAfter the abolition of the Planning Commission and establishment of NITI Ayog, Central financial assistance to the State dwindled drastically and as a result, the State Government found it hard to release adequate funds at some point of time. This was another factor for the slow down in the construction work.
The Civil Secretariat is being constructed at Chingmeirong as the existing Secretariat at Babupara can no longer cater to the changing requirements.
