Imphal, Jun 13: The 4th Kangla Cocoon Mela was held today under the aegis of Sericulture Department at Kangla hall with Art and Culture and Agriculture Minister P Parijat and Sericulture Minister N Mangi as chief guest and president respectively.

Altogether 72 farm operating units under Japan sericulture project are taking part in the mela.

Cocoons weighing 1607 kgs worth Rs 2 lakhs are on display in the mela.

Fifty FOUs of Imphal East accounts for 1400 kgs of the cocoons on display.

Speaking on the occasion, N Mangi disclosed that to provide avenues to market silk products cocoons melas would be organised regularly besides establishment of technical housing centre and cocoon collection centre at Sangaipat as a part of the sericulture project being undertaken by the Union Ministry of Textiles with the sponsorship of Japan Bank of International Co-operation.

Required amount of money was deposited at MPHC for the construction of centres in addition to Rs 38.50 crores deposited at NBCC for procurement of pre-fabrication materials.

The project initiated in 1998 is slated for completion by 2008.Exuding confidence that the Japan sericulture project would ameliorate the economy of the State besides reviving the traditional expertise of silk spinning, he appealed to all concerned to make the project a success.

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