Women vendors demand immediate construction of market

Imphal, Aug 30 (UNI) The women's market association here have demanded the Manipur government to immediately construct a new complex after the existing old markets were razed.

The Manipur Keithel Nupi Marup had also alleged that the government had failed to construct the complex for which they were facing several hardships.

The project, sanctioned by the Union Urban Development Ministry on November 23, 2005, was entrusted to the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC), however, the work was halted about 20 months ago after the NBCC abandoned the project, they said.

However, the NBCC officials said they had invited expression of interest from pre-qualified parties on several occasions but could not finalise following lack of required number of tenderers.

Besides, some of the offers received after the last round of tenders were found to be much higher than the sanctioned cost of the project, they added.

The association members have demanded that a committee should be formed with the vendors and government officials so that the works were completed soon.

Meanwhile, the Centre had agreed to hand over the project to state government on August second following the state's repeated requests.

Under the new dispensation, the state government is required to bear ten per cent of the project cost.

UNI