Manipur CM Biren Singh during the closing programme of the 17th state level Orange Festival of Manipur held at Apollo Ground in Tamenglong.
Newmai News Network
Tamenglong | December 19
Altogether 270 orange farmers participated in 17th state level Orange Festival of Manipur held at Apollo Ground in Tamenglong headquarters from December 17 to 19. Every orange farmer brought a minimum 1000 oranges to participate in the festival.
In the Orange Competition, Gainiliu of Sibilong village won the first position followed by Tanimliu Kamei of Sibilong village and Gaikhammei of Changdai village in the second and third position. The three winners respectively won Rs 2 lakh, Rs 1 lakh and Rs 75,000.
Manipur Chief Minister, N Biren Singh gracing the closing programme said, “The State government wants to make Tamenglong an orange producing district because the orange variety grown in the district is suitable with the soil of the district.”
The increased prize money will encourage locals to take up orange farming and make themselves economically viable and self-reliant, which will eventually improve the local economy, he stated.
The CM spoke on the need for tissue culture for the Tamenglong oranges to ensure that the local oranges do not get mixed with other varieties and that they don’t lose their taste or uniqueness.
Highlighting that the State has started exporting products like black rice, pineapple among other items, he said oranges can also be exported “if we have a surplus production”.
He also stressed that Tamenglong is moving towards development, citing various developmental projects like eco-tourism centers at Thanlon Caves, Zeilad Lake, among others.
“In today’s modern world, tourism is the best option for places like Manipur to improve the economy,” he added deliberating on the need to develop and promote the tourist spots in the State.
Reiterating his earlier assurance to the people of the district, the CM said “the government is making Tamenglong one of the most developed districts of the State” and highlighted development works undertaken including the construction of a water supply, ongoing work for an amusement park near Barak River. “We have also proposed the centre for development of a tourist centre at Buning,” he announced. The CM also appealed to the people against creating disturbances to developmental projects.
Stressing on the importance of communication, he spoke on the works taken up on the Khongsang road to Tamenglong, Imphal-Kangchup-Tamenglong road and construction of another helipad at Tamenglong.
Stating that the government had lost at least two and a half years in the last term to the COVID pandemic and another 5-6 months to the rains in the present term, the Chief Minister said that the government had just around 3 years of working season. He continued that with the support and cooperation of the public, the government is able to bring development to the State.
Earlier, the CM also inaugurated a slew of developmental projects including the Development and Promotion of Eco-tourism Centres at Zeilad Lake and Tharon Cave in Tamenglong district under Hill Area Development Program (HADP), establishment of Cold Storage Chain at Tamenglong under HADP, construction of Water Supply Scheme at Tamah, Tamei under HADP and Indoor Stadium cum Multipurpose Hall at Tamenglong district headquarters.
