Manipur joined the rest of the world in celebrating the World Tourism Day on Friday. The State level function was organised by Tourism Department at Longmai Ground in Noney District with Chief Minister N. Biren Singh attending the program.

Speaking at the occasion, the Chief Minister announced that a world-class tourist destination would be developed at Noney to attract tourists from all over the world to the world’s tallest girder railway bridge (141 metres) being constructed by North East Frontier Railway across the valley of river Ijai. 

He further announced that the required funds for the development of one tourist spot each in all the 60 Assembly segments of the State would be included in the next budget. 

In urban areas, the Chief Minister said, such tourist sites would be developed in the form of cafeterias or eating joints while in rural and hill areas, scenic tourist place cum homestays would be developed.

Informing that each tourist spot would cost around Rs. 50 lakhs, N. Biren Singh stated that Rs. 30 lakh would be borne by the State Government while the remaining Rs. 20 lakh should be contributed from the Local Area Development Fund of the MLAs concerned. 

Maintaining that tourism sector is the future of Manipur, having the potential of providing employment to thousands of people, the Chief Minister said that this project must be implemented with utmost dedication and sincerity.

Observing that improvement of roads condition is a must to promote Manipur as a tourist-friendly state, the Chief Minister said that the State Government had requested the Centre to upgrade Kaiphundai-Tousem-Haflong road to the standard of National Highway. He also expressed his gratitude on the fact that the villagers are ready to donate land for broadening of the said stretch for the project. 

In his speech, the Chief Minister also mentioned about the need for development of memorial sites of Rani Gaidinliu and Haipou Jadonang as tourist places.

Regarding helicopter service, N. Biren Singh said that another helicopter service connecting different interior areas with the State capital under Centre’s UDAN scheme would be launched soon in addition to the existing helicopter service run by Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd. 

Stating that the State Government had brought many visible developmental changes in the past two and a half years, the Chief Minister asked the DCs concerned to hold meetings regularly with village leaders to make them aware about completed works and upcoming projects through Power Point presentations. 

Informing that Tamenglong and Noney districts had received an additional fund of Rs. 90 crore under Hill Area Development Programme, the Chief Minister said that 10 works under the programme are being executed in Noney District.

Stating that various other developmental works are also being taken up in the district, the Chief Minister said that transit accommodation for doctors and teachers and Eklavya Residential School could be mentioned to name a few.

He also instructed Chief Secretary Dr. J. Suresh Babu and DCs of Tamenglong and Noney to conduct camps for enrolment of eligible needy families under CMHT, CMST and Ayushman Bharat. 

Urging the villagers to extend co-operation in making CM’s Green Manipur Mission a success, N. Biren also sought suggestion from leaders and common people regarding an alternative to Jhum cultivation.

Tamei AC MLA Awangbou Newmai presided over the function also attended by CAF and PD Minister Karam Shyam, Deputy Speaker K. Robindro, State Planning Board Deputy Chairman S. Rajen, Planning and Development Authority Chairman T. Robindro, Manipur Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board Chairman H. Dingo, Tourism Corporation of Manipur Ltd (TCML) Chairman Dr. Sapam Ranjan and Yaiskul MLA Th. Satyabrata, Manipur State Disaster Management Authority Vice-Chairperson Adim Pamei, Chief Secretary Dr. J. Suresh  Babu and DGP L.M. Khaute as dignitaries among others.