Aizawl, May 20: Though he inaugurated the second phase of the Greater Aizawl Water Supply Scheme on Saturday morning, DoNER minister Mani Shankar Aiyar was not very happy, as he believed the project was not complete.

Aiyar, who addressed a seminar at the Indian National Trust for Art & Culture and Heritage shortly after the inauguration, said: “Although the word they used was ‘completed’, at present the project will be able to serve only half of the intended target.”

The minister rued that even after spending about Rs 30 crore more than the estimated Rs 70 crore, the project would serve only half of the people it had envisaged. He said it would require another Rs 20 crore to complete the project.

Aiyar’s scepticism over the inflated cost of the project may have been triggered by allegations levelled by the Congress that the MNF government was siphoning off money meant for the project. The minister had met leaders of the party at the Congress Bhawan late on Friday evening.

The inauguration of the project at Dihmunzawl, about 15 km away from the city, was attended by a large number of officials and media persons.

On the other hand, A source said Mizoram government’s protocol officer is all set to face criticism, if not disciplinary action.

Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio left the venue in a huff just before Aiyar inaugurated the project’s second phase. According to the source, Rio, who was sitting among VIPs, summoned his vehicle and returned to Aizawl after someone from the Protocol Office asked him to move to a more public area.

“What makes the matter worse is that Rio was specially invited to attend the inauguration by Aiyar,” the source said.

In another breach, protocol officials apparently allowed chief minister Zoramthanga’s vehicle to precede the car of Mizoram governor while they were proceeding towards Aizawl after the conclusion of the NEC’s Sectoral Summit at Berawtlang on Saturday evening.

“I believe the governor was not very happy about this,” the source said.