IT News
Imphal, April 2:
Despite mounting evidence of financial mismanagement and corruption in the Mega Food Park project at Yaithibi Khunou, Thoubal District, the government has yet to take any concrete action against the officials and contractors involved. The ambitious project, launched under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY), was intended to boost Manipur’s food processing industry but has instead become a glaring example of financial irregularities and misappropriation of public funds.
A work order amounting to Rs. 21,30,46,959 was awarded to different contractors for various construction projects by the Manipur Food Industries Corporation Limited (MFICL). However, official records accessed by Imphal Times reveal that, despite the large-scale expenditures, only a main gate, a security barrack with a toilet, and approximately 0.52-kilometers of boundary wall have been constructed.
Among the key projects, the construction of the boundary wall was awarded to M/S Continental Construction at a cost of Rs. 1,26,40,540. The construction of roads and stormwater drainage was assigned to S.N. Panvei for Rs. 5,60,97,314, while land development works were also awarded to the same contractor for Rs. 1,43,88,312. The controversial main gate, built with a steel structure, was awarded to S.N. Panvei on March 2, 2021, for Rs. 23,98,823. The security barrack with a toilet, another project that raised concerns about financial irregularities, was awarded to Laishram Amarjit Singh on October 20, 2021, for Rs. 31,59,800. All the above-mentioned contracts were awarded by Peter Salam, the then Managing Director of MFICL.
Further contracts included the design, fabrication, and erection of a pre-engineered steel building for the Mega Food Park, awarded to Gaikhonlung Panmei for Rs. 3,99,00,000 on October 19, 2022. Another project for the design, fabrication, and erection of a pre-engineered steel building was awarded to Dessons Autotech Pvt. Ltd for Rs. 6,40,74,300 on December 13, 2022. The construction of a temporary approach road from IVR to the park was given to JK Construction on October 24, 2022, for Rs. 11,57,301, while the same company received another contract for a small office-cum-residence building for Rs. 9,61,012. The construction of a police watchtower and security gate was assigned to M/S Continental Construction for Rs. 4,36,439 on the same day. In March 2023, two contracts were awarded to Heisnam Raghumani—foundation work for a pack house at Rs. 65,66,719 and foundation work for a cold storage facility at Rs. 78,65,171. All these contracts were awarded by the current Managing Director of MFICL, Joel G. Haokip.
Imphal Times has previously exposed financial irregularities regarding the construction of the main gate and security barracks, revealing inflated costs and substandard infrastructure. Experts estimate that these projects were completed at costs far lower than what was billed, pointing to massive overpricing and potential collusion between contractors and officials. Despite these exposes, no action has been taken against the responsible officials or contractors. The lack of government intervention has fueled public anger, with many questioning whether the Mega Food Park project is truly about development—or just another elaborate scam.
With only a fraction of the promised infrastructure visible on-site, there is an urgent need for a thorough forensic audit of the entire project. Authorities must identify those responsible for fund misappropriation and ensure strict legal action against all those involved. Without swift intervention, the Mega Food Park at Yaithibi Khunou risks becoming yet another example of unchecked corruption at the cost of public funds. Will the government finally act, or will this scandal be buried like many before it? The people of Manipur demand answers.
