Bhubaneswar, Aug. 15: The Centre has expressed its displeasure over the state government's failure to implement the Modified Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme (MIUS).

The scheme is being implemented at Angul Aluminium Park, developed jointly by Navratna firm National Aluminium Company (Nalco) and state-owned Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco). Nalco and Idco have signed a memorandum of understanding to set up the aluminium park.

The central government sanctioned the project on August 18, 2015. It was scheduled to be completed by August 17. However, little physical progress in the work has been made so far.

In his letter to Odisha chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi, the secretary, department of industrial policy and promotion under the commerce and industries ministry, Ramesh Abhishek, said: "Central assistance of Rs 10 crore was released as first instalment on December 2, 2015, for the execution of the project. But during the review, it was found that the progress has been poor."

The total project cost was estimated at Rs 99.60 crore, of which the central government granted Rs 33.44 crore.

During the review, it was found that while the physical progress of the project was 1.82 per cent, the financial progress was Rs 1.57 crore.

"The funds were provided to the project about 18 months ago and it was expected that the project would be completed by now as projects under the MIUS are given two years for execution," said Abhishek.

The central government asked the Odisha government to look into the issues that were delaying the project and complete it before March 31, 2018.

The response of the state government, which is trying to put its industrialisation drive on fast track, will be crucial considering that in the past it was accused of going slow on central projects.

Cop suicide

A police constable committed suicide on the Tusara police station premises in Balangir today. He has been identified as Joseph Kispetta. His body was retrieved from a well at the police station. Police officers suspect that Kispetta ended his life being unable to deal with work pressure. A probe is on.