Imphal: Manipur government spokesperson Th Radheshyam defended the state’s decision to move the proposed permanent campus for NIT Manipur. He cited technical unfeasibility at the designated Lamphel site during a press briefing in Imphal on Tuesday, August 11. The project, which dates back to a 2012 central sanction, stalled after soil tests revealed the 300-acre tract was a marshy wetland.
Construction at the Lamphel location would require massive piling work. This would balloon costs from an original Rs 300 crore to nearly Rs 1,000 crore. Radheshyam noted that the Central Public Works Department and NIT authorities signed an initial memorandum of understanding, but federal funding relies on site viability. “Unless the land is changed, the Government of India will not be able to finance or invest money in the project,” he said.
The MLA rejected criticism from the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee. He argued the current administration was not part of the original site selection. He also dismissed claims that the BJP-led government neglected the project, citing interruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing state crisis. The site at Lamphelpat is a wetland, crucial for flood control and regional biodiversity.
NIT Manipur currently operates out of temporary facilities at the Polytechnic in Takyelpat and a DIET center in Salam village. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has promised to identify and allot a suitable alternative site soon. While addressing broader state issues, including economic blockades and potential land exchanges with Myanmar, Radheshyam called for public cooperation. “Every problem has to have a solution,” he stated, urging citizens to avoid complicating existing tensions.
Updated at 12th August 2026 at 2:00am
Addressing critics who point to nearby private construction, Radheshyam argued that government projects face stricter budget caps. He stated that private developments enjoy greater flexibility in spending, whereas public works must stay within strict sanctioned limits, making the massive piling costs at Lamphelpat unviable for the state.
Radheshyam also went on the offensive against his political rivals, accusing the previous Congress administration of prioritizing construction contracts over the long-term welfare of students and faculty. He questioned why the former government failed to switch the location years ago when the initial expert reports first flagged the marshy soil issues.
Comments