In an indication of the state of affairs in the Power Ministry, even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's dream project, the 750-MW Bongaigaon power project in Assam, is in a state of neglect after he laid the foundation in January 2006. Work on the Rs. 3,000-crore project being executed by the National Thermal Power Corporation is yet to take off. It was only after Minister of State for Power Jairam Ramesh cracked the whip last week did the NTPC begin civil works at the site. Personal initiative The project was a personal initiative the Prime Minister in view of his association with the northeast, particularly Assam, to accelerate the pace of development. "It is unfortunate that no progress has taken place on such an important project,' Mr. Ramesh said. "Now I am personally monitoring it.' While launching the project, Dr. Singh said he took great pride in the government taking up the venture in this "adopted home of mine.