Manipur, France sign pact on solid waste project

Imphal, February 06: A State delegation comprising Advisor K Kipgen, Chief Secretary Rakesh and Principal Secretary (Finance) V Chhibber signed an agreement for the Solid Waste Project and also held detailed discussion with representatives of the French Finance Ministry on funding of the Solid Waste as also the Imphal Sewerage Project, a source from the Principal Secretary (Finance) said. The tentative schedule of launching the project has been fixed for March 4 and a French delegation led by M Louis Oliver, Minister (Economic) in the French Embassy, New Delhi and MF Colson of M/S Aqua Technique are likely to participate in the function, the source said. The project under the initiative of Governor Ved Marwah has been awarded technical clearance by the Union Ministry of Environment & Forest. Governor Marwah initiated the expeditious implementation of the French Assistance Projects in Manipur. The French authorities had in return invited a delegation of the State Government to visit France to see the latest technology available for Solid Waste Management as also to enter into an Agreement for setting up of a Solid Waste Management Project in Imphal, according to the source. The Solid Waste Management Project will improve the environment in the Greater Imphal Region through a scientific and modern system of collection of solid waste and its disposal at a designated landfill site which will also have an integrated composting plant. The French authorities will be responsible for supply of high tech equipments and infrastructure and technologies, training and coordination with the State Environment Department as well as supervision of Solid Waste Management plant during the project period of two and a half years, the source said. The French authorities have identified a consortium of five different companies which will be led by LYSA, France. The project is estimated to cost around Rs 40.99 crores, of which the France Government assistance would be approximately Rs 24.99 crores. The State's delegation as desired by Governor Marwah visited France from January 27 to February 1. The Imphal Sewerage Project included under the recently concluded Indo French Protocol is expected to benefit 1,73,245 inhabitants by setting up a Sewerage Treatment Plant along with sewerage system. The delegation also had preliminary discussions with the representatives of ANTEA, the French firm specializing in ground water studies and environment impact assessment. The ANTEA has already completed the ground water survey of Imphal area under an earlier project with French assistance. The ANTEA has promised to submit a further project outline for exploitation of ground water resources in Imphal valley area to the State Government within March this year with the aim of augmenting the availability of water in Imphal area. Mention may be made here that Manipur had already benefited from three French assisted projects including Water Kiosks at Khuman Lampak, Ground Water Survey of Imphal region and the Kangchup water supply scheme. The recent visit of the State's delegation will provide impetus to the early implementation of two new French assisted projects in the State, the source further said.