Imphal: Manipur budget documents for 2022-23 earmark Rs 1 crore for a proposed Manipur Bhavan in Silchar. The project remains nonexistent. Records show the funding appeared under Budget Demand No 3 for the Secretariat, specifically tagged as Major Head 4216. This was not a campaign promise. It was a formal government-approved financial commitment.
The N. Biren Singh administration included the project in the budget despite earlier reports that no cabinet approval or administrative sanction existed. During the Ibobi Singh era, the project lacked formal orders. The mystery deepens regarding the land. A 24-bigha plot once tied to the site is now held by Congress MLA K. Meghachandra Singh.
Where did the money go? The Imphal Times investigation highlights a total lack of transparency. No work orders, utilization certificates, or progress reports exist. The funds sat alongside other capital outlays, including Rs 8 crore for a Shillong Manipur Bhavan and Rs 5 crore for a new Lokayukta building. Officials must explain if the cash was spent or surrendered. The project sits in limbo. For thousands of people, this building is a needed resource for medical care and transit. The Imphal Times reports that after eighteen years of announcements, the project has left behind neither a building nor a public explanation.
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