Lack of attention mars Hatta Kangjeibung
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 12 2020: Due to lack of attention, Hatta Kangjeibung at Palace Compound has turned into a "jungle", said commuters.

With tall and invasive grasses covering the entire compound, the ground - which hosts the famous Manipur Sangai Festival every year has lost all its beauty and elegance.

The cultural heritage park corner in the northern side of the ground which houses dummy art and culture artifacts, houses depicting the harmony among the different communities are now not seen clearly due to the tall grasses that now decorate the entire ground.

When asked passers-by, some blame the Government for the sorry state of the ground and others blame COVID-19 .

"The Hatta Kangjiebung is in a sorry state because of lack of Government attention.

Government seems to remember this ground only when the Sangai Festival comes," said a middle aged man who said the place should be well preserved and maintained all year round.

This year, there will be no Manipur Sangai Festival due to COVID-19 and thus the Government is not paying attention to the wellbeing of Hatta Kangjeibung, he added before a woman interrupted and blamed COVID-19 for the Government's lack of attention.

The Government, she said, is 'obviously' focusing on fighting COVID-19 .

The number of cases (COVID-19 positive) has increased sharply and death toll is rising.

The Government has little time to pay attention to the condition of the ground, she said but continued that the Government and the Department concerned should also take proper care of the ground and restore it to its original glory deserving of the Sangai Festival.

She said she hopes to enjoy the Sangai Festival next year when there is no COVID-19 or coronavirus.

When contacted the Department of Tourism, its Director Waikhom Ibohal said the Government has said that there will be no Sangai Festival due to COVID-19 pandemic this year.

Not only, the Sangai Festival, the Department and the Government is not going to hold any tourism related festival considering the risk of such big events amid the pandemic.

"Even though tourism festivals attract many tourists from outside the State and abroad earning the State a great deal of revenue, holding big events amid the pandemic is risky.

The State and the whole of the Nation is facing unprecedented health crisis and focus should be given to fighting this pandemic," he said.

The Director further informed that in January this year, about 14,467 domestic tourists and 1,172 foreign tourists visited Manipur.

About 15,337 domestic tourists and 1,308 foreign tourists visited the State in February.

In March, the number decreased with 8,000 domestic tourists and 557 foreign tourists visiting Manipur.

Only 15 foreign tourists visited the State in June, he said.

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