Avoidable hiccups
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: November 23, 2013 -

In the run up to the Sangai Festival, 2013, DGP MK Das had taken extra pain in trying to explain to the people that the stringent security measures and the traffic regulations that have been enforced in Imphal city and its surrounding area are for organising the festival smoothly and avoid hiccup like last year.

He was, of course, referring to the unfortunate incident of bomb blast near the gate of the main festival venue at Hafta Kangjeibung last year that claimed the life of a poor rickshaw driver, in such a brutal and inhumane manner that could send down chill down the spine of anyone who dares to recall or even think about it.

So, in spite of the conveniences being caused to the people on account of the tight security measures and even tighter traffic regulations that have been put in place this time, such arrangements are necessary to avoid hiccups for ensuring the success of the Sangai Festival, 2013 which is being participated by many foreign dignitaries/delegates this time.

Any lapse on the part of the security measures that could give room to the armed miscreants to create trouble or play with the life of innocent people once again would send out a wrong signal to all visitors as Manipur as a destination for meeting one's end and not for pleasure trip.

Taking into account of the tight security measures that have been taken up this time with men in Khaki seen posted in every nook and corner of the city, one can rest assure that the mischief mongers have been kept at bay.

So, any possible security hiccup appears to be out of the frame of a picture-perfect tourism festival, which is in the making, even though, we still feel, security measures and tourism promotion are something that should never go together.

But hiccup of an avoidable kind seems to have surfaced already casting a shadow on the smooth conduct of the 10-day long tourism festival, even though it is only two days old.

The boycott of the festival announced by the councillors of Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) over the alleged high-handedness of the officials of the State Tourism Department, who are mainly responsible for organising the festival, is truly unfortunate.

The councillors have taken the stand after the workers of IMC engaged for the task of keeping the venue of Sangai Festival neat and clean were denied entry by men in Khaki guarding the main gate and they were forced to buy tickets for admission as the Tourism Department fails to issue passes to them.

This is yet another clearer instance of lack of co-ordination and communication among the various arms of the State administration in organising such an important festival meant for projecting Manipur as the right destination for the tourists to visit and enjoy the hospitality that the State and its people have to offer.

Since the IMC authority is reported to have brought the matter to the notice of the Chief Minister, necessary corrective measures should be taken up at once so that such avoidable hiccups that could ruin the smooth conduct of the festival could be avoided.