Rs 19 cr spent on devt of Kangla

Rs 5 crore more to be spent on further development
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Lukhoi Wangkhem

Imphal, Feb 7 : If utlised properly, carefully and correctly, a sum of nearly Rs 20 crore is indeed a huge amount which would be sufficient for developing a smal town.

An almost similar amount has been spent on development and beautification of the holy Kangla during the past several years but much of the development is yet to be seen.

The state government has already used up Rs 19 crore in development and beutification of Kangla so far.

Another amount of Rs 5 crore is at hand to be invested in further development, according to a source close to the Kangla Fort Board.

As part of the development and restoration of the holy site under strict supervision of the Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi, who is also the chairman of the Kangla Fort Board, the family quarters where Assam Rifles personnel were earlier accommodated, and till a few days back family line of 2nd IRB stayed, have begun to be demolished.

Till yesterday, 73 quarters had been razed to the ground.

Previously 106 quarters had been demolished, the source revealed.

Once the demolition work is completed and all the rubbles cleared, the authority will start taking up land development programme.

All restoration works will be done according to the photographs and documents of Kangla available at the British Library, and utmost care would be taken not to destroy even a bit of the originality.

Care will also be taken not to leave anything that reflects the previous occupancy of the place, ie Assam Rifles, the source said.

The source further disclosed that the Board is prepared to start restoration work on Utra Shanglen of Kangla at an estimated cost of Rs 1 crore.

The Board will determine the precise design of the Utra abode and start working soon.

Development work has already begun at the site where used to stand the tombs of kings.

At the end of the work, it is exptected to cost Rs 7 lakh, the source added.

Plans are also afoot for constructing an open air theater in front of the Govindaji Temple at Kangla.

Only religious functions would be allowed to be held in the place.

The source further said that the Department of Art and Culture, the Horticulture Department and the Archives are taking major roles in the onus of development and beautification of Kangla.

As such, people have begun to see the beautiful sight of Kangla.

Once the development works are over, the real beauty of Kangla would be able to be presented before the eyes of the whole world, claimed the source.

The source said that the completion of development and beautification of Kangla, of which area covers 237.62 acres, has been targetted at 2012, as new ideas come up, the work is exptected to take longer time.

The Kangla Fort Board will discuss and review the ongoing development works soon.

Manipuri diaspora marches to Kangla

Expatriates visit state of origin to mark Manipur’s liberation from Burmese occupation

Peace marchers pay floral tribute at Kangla Fort on Thursday. Picture by Eastern Projections Imphal, Jan 9 : Descendants of Manipuris who got scattered in various parts of Assam during the Burmese invasion in 1819 walked for the past 10 days to reach Imphal today to realise the “dream of a lifetime”. Nearly 500 men and women, mostly from Cachar, Golaghat, Hailakandi, Karbi Anglong and the Barak valley, reached Kangla fort around noon as part of a peace march that began on December 29 from Silchar’s Indira Club ground. Organised by Manipuri Diaspora, nearly 1,000 people joined the march named Manipur Levy 2008. Their first stop was Kangla fort where a reception was organised for those who were visiting Manipur for the first time. “This is my first visit to Kangla, which is a Mecca for the Meiteis. On reaching here, I prayed at the Kangla sha, the statues of a mythical animal and the symbol of power of Meitei kings. Many of us who have come from Assam for the first time are very happy. We can die in peace now that our dream has been realised,” 48-year-old Thokchom Pravharani Devi, a teacher and social activist from Cachar, said. When the Burmese invaded Manipur, several Manipuris fled to Assam, Tripura and Bangladesh between 1819 and 1826, also known as “seven years’ devastation”. The fugitive king, Maharaja Gambhir Singh, marched in with his Manipur Levy of 500 from Sylhet on March 11, 1825, and finally drove out the Burmese soldiers from the state. Tomorrow is Maharaja Gambhir Singh’s 175th death anniversary and the Manipur Levy 2008 has been organised in commemoration of Manipur’s liberation from Burmese occupation. The marchers will visit Langthabal, the ancient palace of Meitei kings, tomorrow to pay homage to Manipuri heroes. “When we entered Imphal valley, all our fatigue and exhaustion evaporated. We are happy to visit Kangla and we are looking forward to visiting Govindaji temple,” said Waikhom Tamphasana Devi from Golaghat. The organisers plan to take them to Govindaji temple and Loktak lake on Monday. “Had it not been for the march, many of us in Assam could have died without visiting the place of our origin and the sacred Kangla fort,” said S. Ibemtombi of Cachar.