Aizawl, Jan 14 : The Congress government has decided to revive the Venus Bamboo Plant allegedly ruined by the Mizo National Front government.
Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, who visited the Mizoram Venus Bamboo Products Private Ltd at Sairang yesterday afternoon, said the stalled bamboo plant would be revived despite financial constraints.
''The government is keen to tap the vast bamboo resources in the state. Despite financial constraints we have felt a strong need to revive this bamboo plant to revolutionise the state's economy, especially the rural economy,'' he said.
Official sources said the bamboo plantation was started in 2003 under a joint venture with then Mizo National Front government and Venus Bamboo Products Private Limited, West Bengal, and Boarke Company, Taiwan.
Though, Rs 11 crores had been spent on the plant for different equipment, it has been going on loss since the last six years.
Moreover, it has more than Rs 20 lakhs due on electricity bills.
''The government will try to get Rs 150 lakhs for working capital from various sources and will reconnect electricity despite the outstanding bills,'' the chief minister said.
Production trail run had been conducted on November 20, 2010.
The Congress, when it was in the Opposition, alleged that Rs 4.49 crore had been given to the managing director of the Venus Bamboo Products Private Limited, K K Shah, from the Baffacos (Bamboo Flowering and Famine Combat Scheme) and Mizoram Intodelhna (self-sufficiency) Project funds.
It was alleged that the 'joint venture' between then MNF government and K K Shah had been to earn easy money.
Soon after its inception, the Lal Thanhawla government had appointed Rualzakhuma, a retired IAS officer and K Lalchhunga, a retired IPS officer, to probe into alleged corruption in the Venus Bamboo Ltd. Last year, the two-man inquiry commission on Venus Bamboo Ltd submitted a 256-page report to state government.
The inquiry commission maintained that the report had been prepared under deliberations and full cooperation from witnesses and that no external interferences had been felt in any way.
Remedial measures and other relevant subjects were also discussed thereafter. The report contained two volumes, Volume-I being the main reports while Volume-II dealt with the statements of the witnesses.
''The report has brought into light certain irregularities and inconsistent management in the administration and utilization of funds in this Venus Bamboo Ltd under the erstwhile head, K K Shah,'' an official said on condition of anonymity.
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