Photo Courtesy: nenews
Imphal: Manipur authorities officially pulled the plug on the 66 MW Loktak Downstream Hydroelectric Project on Wednesday. The state cabinet also moved to dissolve the Loktak Downstream Hydroelectric Corporation Limited. This decision ends years of heated debate over the site.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh chaired the meeting at the New Secretariat in Mantripukhri. Officials confirmed the shutdown stems from persistent complaints. Locals and civil society groups fought the project for years. They cited fears of permanent environmental damage, the loss of fertile agricultural land to rising water, and doubts about the venture's actual economic worth.
The plan centered on the Leimatak River. It spanned across both Tamenglong and Churachandpur districts. The Loktak Downstream Hydroelectric Corporation Limited served as the joint venture vehicle for the build. NHPC Ltd owned 74 percent of the firm, while the Manipur government held the remaining 26 percent.
The Cabinet shifted focus to medical policy as well. They approved new stipends for foreign medical graduates currently in internships. These students at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences and Churachandpur Medical College will now receive pay equal to their Indian-trained peers.
Following the session, the Chief Minister addressed the broader agenda on social media. "We deliberated on key policy matters and strategic initiatives to strengthen governance, accelerate development and advance the welfare of the people. We remain committed to delivering transparent, responsive and people-centric governance for a stronger and more prosperous Manipur," Khemchand said. The meeting agenda covered 13 items, though details on other potential decisions remain thin.
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