Orange Festival celebrated in full strength
O Ibobi promises conditional cold storage facility
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 09 2014:
All oranges produced in the State of Manipur would be officially named Tamenglong Orange or Tamenglong Mandarin, declared Chief Minister O Ibobi today.
Speaking as chief guest at the 11 th State Level Orange Festival held today at Tamenglong district headquarters, Ibobi asserted that all oranges produced in Manipur would be officially named as Tamenglong Orange or Tamenglong Mandarin in view of its distinctive qualities apart from the fact that the district contributes over 80 per cent of the total quantum of orange produced by the State.
If the orange productivity of Tamenglong district can be increased further, cold storage facilities would be provided Rut this would require round the clock power supply.
That is why.
the matter is being kept under consideration.
Replying to a number of memorandums submitted by different civil society organisations, development works of Bishnupur Tupul, Bishnupur-Joujangtek and Joujangtek-Nungba (Tongjei Maril) roads have started with investment from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) .
Even though these projects were at the very initial stage, some machines used in these projects were set ablaze.
Such disruptive activities were always counter-productive and all the people ought to tackle such anti social activities collectively.
Khongsang-Tamenglong road has been already declared as a part of a National Highway.
Development works on Imphal-Kangchup Tamenglong road and Tamenglong-Tousem Tamei road would begin from March next year with funds drawn from NEC.
The Chief Minister also mentioned that the .
Jiribam Tupul-lmphal railway line would pass through the world's highest railway bridge.
The State Government would look into the problem of water shortage and lack of Science teachers at Tamenglong district headquarters.
The Government would also consider about setting up a wildlife sanctuary division under Forest Department in Tamenglong district.
Talking about healthcare facilities, Ibobi stated that a new system under which specialist doctors are sent to district headquarters for a period of two months on roatational, basis has been already put in place.
in spite of the UNC's boycott call and stringent security measures taken up by State forces and paramilitary forces the mini stadium where the festival was held was packed beyond its capacity.
The venue was decorated with rows and rows of orange stalls hyphenated with quite a number of traditional handloom and handicraft stalls.
The festival also featured colourful traditional dance and music programmes and Miss Orange Beauty Pageanl held under the theme 'Orange for Unity and Prosperity' .
Akin of Sibilong won first position in the orange pro ductivity contest while Akindi Gonmei of Khongjaron and Miss Hegur of Dailong won the second and third positions.
They were rewarded with Rs 1.50 lakh, Rs one lakh and Rs 75,000 respectively.
Later in the evening, 33 beauties took part in the Miss Orange 2014 contest.
The winner is entitled to cash prize of Rs one lakh while the first runners-up and second runners-up would get Rs 75,00(1 and Rs 50,000 respectively.
Speaking at the function as chief host, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam maintained that all those elements opposing the festival were anti-people determined to keep, the orange growers under perpetual subjugation.
Questioning whether the objection was raised in the interest of the district or the State, Gaikhangam lauded the public of Tamenglong for participating in the festival in full strength.
He also called upon the people to reduce the practice of jhum cultivation and all kinds of deforestation activities.
Soon after the State Government introduced the New Land Use Policy, it was wrongly propagated that the Government would take over all the places of hill districts.
Based on this misplaced propaganda, strong objections, were raised from different quarters forcing the Government to scrap the policy.
Calling upon all orange growers to cultivate orange plants more intensively, Gaikhangam expressed keen desire to organise the Orange Festival at Imphal.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Phungzathang Tonsing, Commerce and Industries Minister Govindas Konthoujam, RD&PR Minister Francis Ngajokpa, Agriculture Minister Md.Nasir Khan, MLAs Kh Devendro, Kikhonbou Newman Janghemlung Pamei and Members of Tamenglong ADC were also present at the festival.
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