Loktak eco-tourism project under consideration: Ashwini
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 21 2021: Union minister of state for environment, forest and climate change and CAF & PD Ashwini Kumar Choubey has informed that the central government is working to provide a package of Rs 1450 crore through the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for developing Loktak Lake as an eco-tourism project.

Without the development of Manipur and North-Eastern states, development of the country is meaningless, he said during his two days visit to the state.

Ashwini, who arrived here on a two-day state visit on Tuesday, went to Loktak Lake and then to Keibul Lamjao National Park.

Later, he met Governor La Ganeshan and chief minister N Biren at their respective official residences.

A press briefing cum felicitation programme was held at 7:30 pm at Hotel Classic, North AOC, which was attended by eminent sportspersons including Olympians and officials from Forest Department and CAF & PD Department.

Fifteen sportspersons including Olympians, coaches and medallists were felicitated by the union minister at the programme.

Interacting with media persons, Ashwini Chaubey observed that Manipur is a role model for entire country.

State denizens have been benefiting by Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and are getting 5 kg of food grains per person every month, he added.

"Manipur has FCI's food grain storage capacity of 62,812 MT.

We are making efforts to increase this capacity for the benefit of the state," he said.

He also said that Covid vaccination in the country is the biggest vaccination drive in the whole world.

The union minister felicitated Ksh Thoiba, who took part in 1998 Seoul Olympics; Tokyo Olympics 2020 hockey bronze medallist S Nilakanta Sharma, former boxing world champion L Sarita, etc.

Earlier in the day Ashwini planted sapling at Sendra and also distributed NFSA cards under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) to the people at Kumam Mandop, Moirang.

The sapling plantation programme at Sendra was attended by Rajya Sabha MP and titular king Leishemba Sanajadba; forest, environment & climate change minister Awangbow Newmai; Thanga MLA and PDA chairman T Robindro; former chief secretary O Nabakishore; BJP Bishnupur District Committee president RK Bimola Devi, BJP Bishnupur Mandai president N Raghumani Singh, Keinou Gram Panchayat pradhan Ng Sovana Devi; DC Bishnupur Krishna Kumar and CAF & PD commissioner Bobby Waikhom among others.

The Union minister also paid floral tributes to the statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra at INA Memorial, Moirang accompanied by Moirang MLA P Saratchandra.

Later, Ashwini distributed NFSA cards to one beneficiary of PMGKAY and two NFSA cardholders during a programme held at Kumam Mandop.

Speaking on the occasion, the Union minister informed that PMGKAY has benefitted more than 80 crores people, with Manipur allocated 9,300 MT of rice under the scheme.

He assured that the government is working to ensure that the PMGKAY benefits reach all the eligible beneficiaries.

BJP is a party that works for the welfare of poor people.

The Prime Minister and the Union home minister have taken up various measures for the development of North East states, the minister added.

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