Orange Festival 2015 kicks off
Effigies of CM, Dy CM set on fire
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Daniel Kamei

Tamenglong, December 09 2015: Amidst stiff opposition, the 12th edition of Orange Festival 2015 Manipur kicked off with heightened security on Wednesday at Lower Ground in Tamenglong District Headquarters.

Delivering his speech as the Chief Guest, Chief Minister O Ibobi stated that the State Government has always recognised the potential of horticultural crops in hill areas of Manipur and orange cultivation particularly in the Tamenglong District.

"The horticulture department and farmers have been exerting their efforts to rejuvenate the low yielding old and senile orange orchards, enhance production of fruits, vegetable and nascent floricultures", said Ibobi.

The Chief Minister lauded the orange growers of Tamenglong stating that about 70 percent of total orange produce in the State have been contributed by the District alone.

Orange Festival 2015 kicks off

He appealed all the stakeholders particularly the farmers and experts from the horticulture department, ICAR and CAU to put their heads together and ensure that the orange production and growth moves in a scientific and systematic direction.

He also assured that the State Government was willing to extend any possible help towards this end.

Ibobi further stated that after the completion of Jiribam-Tupul Imphal Railway line, connectivity issue will be improved so that the districts forest products and horticulture produce could be easily transported.

"The Tamenglong District will have a much wider market and change the economic condition of the people.

The direct benefits will flow into every household in the district", he said.

The State Government has also given focus on improving power situation in the State and this will improve plans to set up smaller processing and cold-storage facilities in the District Headquarters and sub-divisional block headquarters, he said.

The Chief Minister announced that to improve credit and banking facilities in the State, State Government has planned to establish the integrated sub- divisional block offices with bank branches and police outpost in 27 unbanked blocks of Hills areas under tribal inclusive growth.

All the projects are completed and final touch is going for inauguration within short time, he informed.

Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who is also the Chairman of State Level Orange Festival Committee and Chief Host appealed the orange growers to increase their produce so that allied industries could be established.

He also urged all to be the messengers of peace, unity and love on an occasion the Orange Festival.

Minister of Commerce and Industry Govindas Konthoujam; Francis Ngajokpa, Minister of RD & PR and Eco & Statistics; Dr Kh Ratankumar Singh, Minister of Works & Transport; MK Preshow Shimray Deputy Speaker; Z.Kikhonbou Newmai, Vice Chairman Hill Areas Committee and Janghemlung Panmei MLA 53- Tamenglong attended as Guests of Honour respectively.

The best orange awards were won by Nungba Sub-Division, Tamenglong.

Rapangailiu Stall No 61 bagged first position while Stall No 36 and Lansingpou Stall No 35 bagged second and third positions respectively.

As many as 280 orange growers attended the festival.

Despite restrictions imposed to the public of Tamenglong from Zeliangrong Baudi, Tamenglong zone under the directive United Naga Council Manipur, Orange festival went off peacefully.

However, as the Chief Minister and his team arrived on a chopper at around 10.45 am, United Naga Council volunteers burned the effigies of O Ibobi and Gaikhangam at the Medical Gate, Tamenglong District Headquarters.

The volunteers also issued a joint statement signed by Titus Kamei, President Zeliangrong Youth Front (AMN); Thomas Kamei, President Zeliangrong Baudi (Manipur); Agipou Pamei, Chairman Zeliangrong Baudi Tamenglong zone; Rathailung Gangmei, Chairman Zeliangrong Youth Front Tamenglong zone and Ashinliu Riamei, President Zeliangrong Pui Baudi.

The joint statement stated that the frontal Zeliangrong organization upheld the Naga People's Convention (NPC) declaration of 2010 wherein it was decided to sever all political ties with the Government of Manipur.