CM examines theme park, pegs festival cost at Rs 5/6 crore
Govt keen to put best foot forward
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 17 2013:
Chief Minister O Ibobi today examined the theme park which would adorn the Manipur Sangai Tourism Festival 2013.The theme park being developed at Hapta Kangjeibung depicts geographical features, flora and fauna, wildlife and people of Manipur.
The Chief Minister's entourage included Speaker Th Lokeshore, Work Minister Kh Ratankumar, Parliamentary Secretary M Prithiviraj, Principal Secretary (Tourism) Rajesh Kumar, Art and Culture Commissioner RK Nimai and Tourism Director Th Chitra.
The team led by O Ibobi went around and assessed the ongoing preparations for the gala event which would be attended by Chinese delegates for the first time apart from Thai and Myanmarese delegations.
The festival would feature a stall of the Northern Frontier Railway which would give a picture of the ongoing railway work from Jiribam to Imphal via Tupul.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated the Maharaj Chandrakirti Auditorium at Palace Compound this afternoon.
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Speaking at the inaugural function, Ibobi dismissed the report that Rs 45 crore would be utilised in repairing roads for the Sangai Festival as reported in some sections of media as baseless.
Last edition of the Sangai festival cost the State Rs 184 lakh and it is estimated that Rs 227 lakh would be needed for this year's edition.
The Government has pooled together Rs 50 lakh from the Ministry of Tourism, Rs 25 lakh from NEC and Rs 150 lakh from the State plan.
With a view to draw attention of Myanmarese delegation who would be led by Chief Ministers of Saigang and Mandalay divisions toward health and education facilities available in the State, some repairing is being done on some major roads.
However, repairing of Uirpok road and airport road is not connected with Sangai festival.
What is being done on these roads is periodical repairing, Ibobi stated.
Estimated cost for repairing Hapta Kangjeibung road is Rs 5 crore but there is a provision of only Rs 3 crore from SPA for the same work.
Nonetheless, the Government negotiated with the contractor and the contractor has already started repairing work.
It is estimated that repairing/maintenance work of RIMS Road to Shija Hospital would require Rs 20 lakh, Hapta Kangjeibung to JNIMS Rs 20 lakh, Imphal city to Manipur University Rs 15 lakh and Imphal-Moirang road Rs 20 lakh.
PWD and PDA are executing the road beautification and median painting works and it is estimated that these works would cost Rs 30 lakh.
Taking into account all these expenditures, Sangai Festival would cost just around Rs 5/6 crore.
The report that the festival would cost Rs 45 crore was some wild speculations, Ibobi asserted.
The Chief Minister also appealed to the media fraternity to publish only the facts.
Repairing of Hotel Imphal is being done by Classic Hotel.
The State Government is not spending a single penny on Hotel Imphal.
Hotel Imphal would be handed over to a firm after holding open tender within six months.