Eeo-Tourism complex at Thangal Surung : Work quality peeves many
Source: The Sangai Express
Sadar Hills, September 24 2016:
The much hyped Eco-Tourism Complex at Thangal Surung, the birth place of Thangal General, in Saikul sub-division under Sadar Hills has turned out to be deeply disappointing to a good number of people living in the area.
Expressing deep disappointment over the alleged insulting construction of the complex, Kuki Students' Organization Saikul Gamkai, Thangal Students' Union and Thangal Surung Village Authority have drawn the attention of the Government and authority concerned to complete the construction work as per the guidelines.
KSO Saikul Gamkai and Thangal Students' Union with the village chief today inspected the Eco-Tourism Complex constructed at a cost of Rs 310.85 lakh under Ministry of Tourism, Govt, of India by Manipur Development Society [MDS] some 4/5 years back.
Speaking to mediapersons on the sideline of the inspection, Thangal Surung village chief K Gongrisim Thangal said that the Eco-Tourism Complex at Thangal Surung is one among 28 various tourism projects sanctioned by Ministry of Tourism and constructed under Manipur Development Society [MDS] in 2010-11 .
He continued that the authority concerned had sanctioned Rs 310.85 lakh in 2010-11 and the targeted date for completion of the work was scheduled on April 30, 2015 .
He further said that one market shed, one open stage, one cafeteria and some rest houses/sheds had been constructed but the work agency only partially completed the building while no toilet has been constructed for the open stage violating the guideline.
The village chief also alleged that apart from the low quality in the construction work, the work agency did not fully complete the construction work as per the guideline while stating that the Eco-Tourism Work quality peeves many Complex is big only in name while in reality the construction work is insulting.
He also pointed out that no joint inspection by the Director (Tourism) has been conducted as per the review meeting on tourism projects being implemented in the State on February 14, 2015 at the Chief Minister's Secretariat with Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh in the chair.
"Therefore, we appeal the Government and the authority concerned to conduct a joint inspection of the Eco- Tourism Complex and initiate satisfactory measures to complete the work with quality as well as to inaugurate the complex at the earliest," said the village Chief.
Meanwhile, Thangal Surung village chief also said that the police out post sanctioned at the village a few years back is yet to see the light of day far while the PHSC which will remain functional 24x7 service as declared by the State Health Director, Dr Ibomcha have remained closed for 24x7 since last year.
While drawing the immediate attention of the State Government, KSO Saikul Gamkai urged the authority concerned and State Government to complete the Eco-Tourism Complex as per the Ministry guidelines while taking punitive actions against the work agency which left the construction in such an insulting condition.
The student body further said any development projects or schemes take up at Saikul sub-division should be implemented with quality and the work agency concerned must adhere to the respective guidelines while adding that the student body will not remain mute spectators.
Thangal Surung village is located about 31 Kms from Imphal via Imphal-Saikul road while it is around 10 Kms away from National Highway 2 via Sapormeina-Saikul road.
Apart from the historical importance of the village, being the birth place of Thangal General, the original location of the village which lies atop a hill has a cave or 'Surung' in the local dialect and it is traditionally believed that if a hen is dropped in the cave during that time, it would come out at the campus of the then Manipur Maharaja in Imphal.
Though, the Ministry of Tourism sanctioned an Eco-Tour-ism Complex in the village, the cave or 'Surung' still lies unpreserved about 10 Kms away from the current location of the village.
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