Imphal, September 26: The people of Manipur will soon have a feel of the Anglo-Manipuri war, 1891, with the State Government making elaborate arrangements for Light and Sound show of the event inside the historic Kangla Fort on the pattern of the one that one sees at the Red Fort of New Delhi.

A reliable source informed The Sangai Express that the arrangement is being made by the Government so that the people of Manipur can revive the memory of the decisive Anglo-Manipuri war of 1891 through the effect of sound and light system like that of the Red Fort at New Delhi.

The Art and Culture Department has also entrusted the Tourism Department to take up the necessary work of installing the system inside the Kangla Fort and include all the important events of the war, the source disclosed.

For further development and proper maintenance of Kangla, the Government is also considering appointing a separate Director or Administrator as well as a curator for Kangla Museum, the source said, while informing that a meeting of the Kangla Board will be held on October 3 next to take a final decision on these points.

Although a total estimated amount of Rs 16.39 crores have been earmarked in the Kangla Conceptual Development Plan for upgradation of Kangla Fort as a world heritage site from its present existing condition, the 12th Finance Commission has allotted only Rs 5 crores and nothing more, the source said, adding that out of this allotted amount only Rs 2.5 crores could be utilised.

As part of the Kangla beautification plan, the State Government has also entrusted the Horticulture Department and Environment and Ecology Wing to plant trees and flowers as well as for their proper maintenance, the source disclosed. Accordingly, the Horticulture Department has been given the charge of growing trees and flowers at Slim cottage (present Kangla Fort Board Office), State Archeology Office (former Assam Rifles Officers' Club) and the former residence of Commandin Officer of AR.

Environment and Ecology Wing will be doing the same at Nungjeng Pukhri and other cites included in the Conceptual Development Plan, the source said.

At present, 50 staff from Public Works Department have been pressed into to mow the grass and the Department will carry out the repairing of the roads and the buildings inside the Fort.

On the other hand, the Public Health Engineering Department has been given the task of maintaining the quality of water at the sacred ponds and moats of Kangla.

Similarly, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department will be erecting fences a boundary of Kangla Fort running along the Imphal river.

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