IMPHAL, Jun 9: Two manufacturing units in the outskirts of Imphal have been damaged by a big inferno this morning. It is suspected that some short circuits could have been the cause of the fire. There is no report of human casualty. The inferno damaged work sheds allotted to Loktak Industries and the Manipur Plastic Industries situated at Takyel in Imphal West district. The loss of properties due to the fire is estimated to be worth around Rs 2 crore. However, there was no official confirmation in this regard.
Meanwhile, Manipur Commerce and Industries Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh took stock of the damages incurred in the incident at the Takyel Industrial Estate at the outskirt of Imphal this morning.
Following the inspection, the Minister said that the State Fire Service will submit a departmental report on the incident.
According to a DIPR press release, the Minister assuring all possible assistance to the affected entrepreneur, said the Government will decide on the necessary relief measures for the victims including payment of necessary compensation or reimbursement at the earliest. As for temporary relief, the Minister instructed the officials concerned to identify non-allocated or unoccupied work sheds where the affected entrepreneurs could be shifted and adjusted for the time being.
The Minister also inspected the work-sheds at the estate allocated to different entrepreneurs and demanded the officials concerned to submit, at the earliest, the names and details of all entrepreneurs and work sheds allocated to them. He further asked the officials that the details should also include a list of all entrepreneurs who are yet to open their allocated work sheds.
Demanding details of all units which are still lying non-utilised despite being already allocated to the beneficiaries, the Minister said such work sheds should be re-allocated to deserving beneficiaries if the previous beneficiaries are unable to set up their units.
Briefing media persons, the Minister said it is the Government’s main objective to make the non-functional Industrial Estates in the State functional at the earliest. He elaborated that the Government is acting on its commitment to solve the unemployment problem by making the industrial estates fully functional and redressing the grievances of the entrepreneurs. This is to encourage the entrepreneurs who on their part will provide earning avenues to others by giving them jobs, he added.
Biswajit further said that all the requirements of the Industrial Estate which are presently lacking will be provided at the earliest after proper consultation with the Chief Minister.
On the Tera Urak Industrial Estate, he said the estate was lying non-functional earlier, but now “we have already met and talked with the entrepreneurs and discussed their issues of which power supply has already been provided.” He continued that now the Army personnel occupying the work sheds have been moved out and required modifications to the work shed structures according to the needs of the entrepreneurs will also be taken up so that the estate is made functional at the earliest.
The Minister also met entrepreneurs and their staff and assured to look into all their grievances. He also suggested that they should conduct a monthly cleanliness drive around the campus by announcing a day-off for their staff. Biswajit also instructed the entrepreneurs to put up their sign boards in front of their units within 15 days. He also said that the entrepreneurs should equip their work sheds with fire extinguishers according to the capacity of their units so as to safeguard themselves from unfortunate fire incidents.
Meanwhile, during an inspection of the MSME-Development Institute, Imphal office located inside the campus, the Minister instructed the staff present to submit their activity/action records of the last three years.
The Minister was accompanied by Commerce and Industries officials including Director M Luikham during the visit. Both the Loktak Industries and the Manipur Plastic Industries are owned by Manoharmayum Geetchandra Sharma.
Source: The Sangai Express