Applicants vent angst for not getting stalls at Sangai Festival
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 21 2017:
Several applicants who have not been provided stalls at the Lamboi Khongnangkhong venue of the Sangai Festival have vented their angst at the Department of Commerce and Industries.
Talking to The Sangai Express, National Awardee Sh Ibohal of the Integrated Mushroom Training Centre, Thangmeiband said that he had applied for a stall at the Sangai Festival 2017 to the Dept of Commerce & Industries to which he was given the permission and was allotted stall number 197.But when he arrived at the venue, he was told that all the stalls had been occupied.
Many people like him have been denied stalls.
He also warned that if he is not given a stall today, then he will return his National award to the CM.
Partners of the Integrated Mushroom Training Centre from Australia are due to arrive on Nov 25 and open a stall the next day.
If they do not get a stall, it will be matter of immense shame for everyone concerned.
On the other hand, an official of the Dept of Commerce and Industries told The Sangai Express that the department has given permission for a total number of 840 stalls to be opened at the Manipur Trade & Expo Centre, Lamboi Khongnangkhong as a part of the Sangai Festival 2017 .
Around 100 stalls are pending, which will be completed by today.
The number of stalls estimated by the department was 515 but the number of applicants far exceeded the estimate.
He further added that the fees for the stalls for Premium Food is Rs 12,000 and for Standard Food is Rs 7,000, for Premium Stall is Rs 8,000 and for Standard Stall is Rs 5,000 .
There are altogether 48 international stalls, 22 Indian stalls and 40 stalls of the NSIC.
Demands for stalls from both international and Indian departments are still pending.
He also said that the Minister of Commerce & Industries had given an order to provide stalls to every applicant.
The department is trying very hard to comply to that order.