Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 01 2009:
A newly constructed community hall at Thangal Ecological Park at Mayangkhang in Senapati district has been inaugurated today.
Incidentally, Mayangkhang was the northern stronghold of Manipur soldiers in the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891 .
The community hall was constructed by Manipur Development Society with funding from Special Plan Assistance.
The inaugural function was attended by TD Minister DD Thaisii, MANITRON Chairman Dr Kh Ratankumar and advisor of the Information Centre for Hill Areas Manipur (ICHAM) K Madhumangol as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.
The inaugural function jointly organised by the Thangal Union, ICHAM and the North Imphal United Clubs and Meira Paibi Organisation (NIUCAMO) was attended by more than 300 people belonging to different communities.
Addressing the function, ICHAM president Rajendro rejoiced over the emerging trend of developing historic sites and monuments of Manipur after staying away from the history of the land for a long period.
For development of the Thangal Ecological Park covering an area of 100 acres, an amount of Rs 1.60 crore was sanctioned under SPA last March.
So far, one RCC community hall has been constructed and compound fencing put up.
Plantation of trees and development of pond have also been undertaken, Rajendro said.
All infrastructure development works would be finished before August 13, he added.
Speaking at the occasion as an special invitee, NPO Senapati district president M Dili appreciated the initiatives taken up by the Government to develop Thangal Ecological Park as a modern park.
He said that the Thangal Ecological Park would help in maintaining ecological balance besides strengthening fraternal bond among different communities of Manipur.
In his speech, DD Thaisii observed that the people of Manipur eat the same food even though they follow different religions.
He exhorted all the people to promote unity and to strive for peace and development.
The people, particularly leaders of different NGOs, should study why different projects and programmes taken up by the Government in hill areas could not be implemented properly, he said.
Dr Kh Ratankumar emphasised the need to recognise inter-dependence among different ethnic groups of Manipur.
"Our duty does not end with remembering our brave forefathers.
It is also our responsibility to emulate their ideology, sacrificial spirit and discipline so that we can hand over their remarkable attributes to future generations without any dilution", he said.
The function culminated with the presentation of traditional dance by artistes of the Ningthoubam Women Society.