New Delhi, June 19: The Director of Tourism, Manipur BB Sharma stated that Manipur Government implemented 80 per cent of the projects sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India during the 10th Plan.

He was speaking at the Tourism Secretaries' Meet yesterday at the Convention Hall, Ashok Hotel here, where all the Tourism Secretaries or their representatives of State/Union Territory Governments were present.

In the meeting presided by the Union Secretary of Tourism Christy Fernandez, BB Sharma drew the attention of the Union Secretary of Tourism for organising the Manipur Tourism Festival in November this year in a large scale inviting the tourists from Japan.

Sharma recalled that this year 2007 was declared as India-Japan Tourism Exchange Year in a joint statement of the two countries which was made during the visit of Prime Minister of India Dr.Manmohan Singh in December last year in Japan.

Referring to the connection of Japanese with the tiny State of Manipur situated at the eastern-most part of the country, the Director of Tourism recalled about 20,000 Japanese killed in Manipur during the World War II.

As such, the descendents of those warriors killed, living in Japan would like to pay homage to their forefathers by visiting to Manipur every year, he observed.

He also drew the attention of the Centre to provide funds for development of the Japanese War Memorial at Maibam Lopka Ching in Bishnupur district.

The Union Secretary of Tourism, in his speech, asked the Manipur Government to prepare and submit a comprehensive proposal for organizing the Manipur Tourism Festival in Manipur in a large scale to the Ministry of Tourism at the earliest.

The one-day meeting that had marathon sitting from 10 am to 5 pm discussed different issues on travel, trade, management of hotels, human resource development for tourism, and also the tourism as an industry.

Renovation of Manipur House commences: The State Public Works Department started renovation/improvement works of the Manipur Tikendrajit House, Chanakyapuri here with effect from June 8.The Manipur Bhawan, New Delhi handed over the Dining Hall, NDMC Sub-Station on the ground floor, Room No.105,106,107 and 108 on the first floor, Room No.203 and 204 on the second floor, Room No.304 and 305 on the third floor of the building to the State PWD for the renovation/repairing works.

The Delhi Manipur Bhawan sources said that there would be accommodation problem during such period of repairing the building.

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