CM eyes sports, culture, tourism development
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 16 2013:
Trans-forming the office complex area of the Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) into a sprawling recreational park and shifting the IMC office to a new building at the old Manipur Legislative Assembly campus are under serious consideration of the Government, said Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh while speaking as the chief guest during the closing ceremony of a 21-day residential table tennis coaching camp.
With the exception of the British-era building housing the main office of IMC, other structures would be pulled down/dismantled to develop the complex as a park, said the CM while informing that a new building would be constructed on the western side of the old Assembly complex to shift the IMC office there.
Noting health, education, power and communication as essential components for overall progress, Ibobi said that development in sports, culture and tourism sectors is more suitable and result-oriented for a tiny and investment starved State like Manipur.
the closing ceremony of the residential table tennis coaching camp conducted under the supervision of North Korean coach Kim Song Han was held today at the indoor hall of National Sports Academy, Khuman Lampak Sports Complex today.
Ibobi, also the Minister holding Youth Affairs and Sports portfolio, highlighted that achievements in the fields of sports and art & cultural have put Manipur on the global map.
Apart from these sectors needing minimal investment, tapping existing tourism potential would immensely benefit the State as all three sectors are complementary in the development of each other, said the Chief Minister.
Emphasising on blending development projects with sprucing up existing tourism facilities to draw tourists, he further announced that on completion of two 150-bedded sports hostels, services of reputed foreign coaches would be roped in to conduct specialised training in 6-7 specific sports disciplines with the aim of producing more medal winners in future Olympic Games.
Delivering the presidential address, Manipur Tennis Association president Dr Kh Loken stated that objective of conducting the coaching camp with foreign expertise was to revive the paddling sports discipline which had declined in the past two decades.
Highlighting that Manipur was a force to reckon with in table tennis in the early 80s, he further informed that winter games would be organised to popularise and further lift the standard of table tennis in Manipur, the functional president proposed that a large hall be constructed to place atleast 20 TT boards.
In his brief assessment about the coaching camp, attended by 53 paddlers from Manipur as well as some NE states, Kim Song regretted that due to short duration of the coaching programme and volumnous participation of trainees proper focus could not be ensured.
In case such coaching programmes are conducted at regular intervals Manipur will certainly produce international class players.
Among others, Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar Singh and Parliamentary Secretary for YAS M Prithviraj were also present at the occasion.