IMPHAL, May 22: The state Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar on Tuesday expressed unhappiness over the slow progress of work with regard to the construction of Mini Secretariat of Bishnupur district during an inspection tour in the district.
The minister on advice of the state Chief Minister conducted an inspection tour of approach roads connecting Loktak Lake, Bishnupur district’s Mini Secretariat and road-works in the district which are being taken up under the Short Term Action Plan (STAP) sponsored by the Planning Commission.
During the tour, a team led by Works Minister including MLAs inspected the condition of roads and bridges at places like Ngaikhong Khunou Pump House, Ngaikhong Khunou Komjao Lambi, Ngaikhong Khullen and Toubul in the district.
The minister’s team also visited Laisoi, Awangsoi, Yennapat, Toubul and Kumbipat which are now being used as dumping grounds of Phumdi (floating biomass) removed from the Loktak Lake.
An amount of Rs 224 crore has been sanctioned for the STAP project out of which 60 per cent of the amount has been released so far, Dr Ratankumar said while briefing newspersons on the inspection trip.
He also said more approach roads will be constructed at different areas and directions of Loktak Lake to facilitate the Phumdi clearing process under the project. The proposed roads will be developed at Laisoi, Awangsoi, Yennapat, Tharopat, Toubul in Oinam and Kumbi constituenciesin the district.
Dr Ratankumar also inspected the Mini Secretariat of the district. He said the work order for construction work of the secretariat was issued in 2008 and that the first floor and second floor of the secretariat building whose work order was issued in 2011 should have been completed as of now.
Expressing unhappiness over the sluggish progress of the construction work, the minister informed that only 75 per cent has been completed for the ground floor as of now.
Further, he instructed to the concerned authorities to finish the construction work and informed that the building is targeted to complete by August or September this year.
The Works Minister was accompanied by Oinam MLA Dr I Ibohalbi, Moirang MLA M Prithiviraj, Kumbi MLA S Bira, MLA and top ranking officials of PWD and LDA.