Centre yet to clear Tipaimukh Project

Imphal, July 15: Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing today informed the Assembly that the Centre is yet to give clearance to the 1500 megawatt Tipaimukh Hydro Electric Project. Responding to a question put forward by MPP MLA O Joy in the morning session of the Assembly today, the Power Minister said that following a resolution adopted by the Assembly on March 3, 1999 an MoU has been sent to the Centre by the State Government. However the Centre is yet to give the clearance to the Project which is to be jointly taken up by the Centre and the State Government. As NH-53 stands to be affected by the proposed Project clearance from the Union Surface Transport Ministry is also needed, the Power Minister said. Boundary Pillar: On the reported missing pillars at the Indo-Myanmar border and the incursion by Myanmar, Chief Minister O Ibobi said that the pillars would be erected again. Answering to a question raised, by FPM MLA from Keishamthong AC L Ibomcha, the Chief Minister said that it has come to the notice that pillars number 101, 66, 78, and 79 erected under boundary pillar 178 are missing. These pillars are erected along the Indo-Myanmar border at Churachandpur, Ukhrul and Chandel districts. Ibobi however said the Government is yet to work out how the pillars went missing. The Chief Minister further said that the State Government has already apprised the matter to the Union Home Ministry Joint Secretary Surender Kumar on June 17 this year. The Home Ministry has been asked to erect the pillars again, he added. A joint inspection of India and Myanmar are currently looking into the details of how the pillars went missing, said the Chief Minister. Engineering College: To a question raised by Opposition MLA Dr Nimaichand Luwang, Higher Education Minister, Y Erabot said that as there is no plan to open more faculties at the Government College of Technology as the State Government is in no position to even install the requisite infrastructure at the three faculties opened at the engineering college. The three faculties opened at the College are Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering and Electronics and Communication Engineering, informed the Minister. There are 30 seats in each of the faculty. The Minister admitted that the College is plagued by a shortage of teachers and lack of adequate infrastructure.