TAMENGLONG, December 9: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today officially announced the oranges grown in Tamenglong as Tamenglong Mandarin/Tamenglong Orange during the State Level Orange Festival at the Mini Stadium here and continued that his government is consulting with experts to chart out ways to increase production of the fruit to improve the economic welfare of the growers.
He said the Horticulture department is also trying to procure saplings of high yield orange varieties.
The State-level festival was organised by the State Level Orange Festival Organising Committee on the theme `Orange for unity and prosperity.`™
Speaking as the chief guest of the festival, Chief Minister Ibobi said the orange variety found in the district is suitable to the local soil.
He said the government is also mulling construction of a cold storage to store the oranges and make it available even during the off-season, he said adding that this would require 24×7 power supply.
The Chief Minister also said that the feasibility of the steps should also be discussed beforehand.
At the same time, it is necessary to increase the production, he said.
The Chief Minister further appealed to the people to cooperate and make all these possible.
Meanwhile, replying to memorandums submitted by different organisations of the district, Chief Minister Ibobi said Tamenglong headquarter is today regarded as the farthest district headquarter from Imphal.
The State government in collaboration with the Centre is in the process of repairing and developing the road stretches from Bishnupur to Tupul, Bishnupur to Joujang to Nungba with a Rs 277 crore funding from the Asian Development Bank, he added.
He said the government is trying to take up the road development work of Imphal-Kangchup-Tamenglong via Tousem-Haflong road before March next year and at the same time repair work of the Imphal-Tamei via Kangpokpi road is presently underway under the North East Council.
Repair work of the Imphal-Jiribam highway is also in process, the Chief Minister said announcing that the Khongsang-Tamenglong road is also now a stretch of the national highway.
He said the Jiribam-Imphal via Tupul rail line will have the highest rail bridge in the world and will attract tourists to the place. However, all these will not be possible without the cooperation and support of the local populace, he added.
Construction and repair work at the Bishnupur-Joujatek-Nungba road had already started, but machineries used in the work were set ablaze. The projects and works undertaken are all for the people, the Chief Minister said in the function while appealing to the people to stand up against such miscreants who are out to disturb development works.
After the completion of all these works, Tamenglong would become the nearest district headquarter from Imphal, he observed.
He further assured to look into the issue of water supply in district headquarters and discuss ways to do so with the PHED minister to restore the old Water Supply Schemes and make them functional once again.
The Chief Minister also assured to look into the question of shortage of science teachers and fill in the vacant posts at the soonest. He also said his government is earnestly looking into the matter of repairing the Operation Theatre in the district hospital and lack of blood bank and the concerned minister has been alerted.
He said his government will also consider setting up of a separate Wildlife division with the Forest minister to safeguard wildlife found in the Zeliad Wild Life Sanctuary, Makru Wild Life Sanctuary and Buning Wild Life Sanctuary in the district.
Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhagnam who presided over the inaugural function appealed to the people to make the land self-reliant by producing different kinds of crops.
He said the Orange Festival is being organised to encourage the farmers, however its main objective will be defeated if the production decreases every year.
Gaikhangam further appealed to the farmers to move forward adding that the Horticulture department has already procured orange saplings from Nagpur to increase orange cultivation in the State.
Meanwhile referring to the boycott call of the festival by the United Naga Council, the deputy Chief Minister without naming any organisation said boycotting the festival is not only unfortunate but it is also anti-development, anti-production and anti-people.
Boycotting an effort to provide market to the farmers and awarding them is an act of anti-people, he asserted before appealing to the people against participating in activities which are against the development and interest of the land.
Gaikhangam also appealed to the people against deforesting for farming saying properties worth crores should not be sacrificed to earn a few lakhs.
He said the government had adopted a land used policy to safeguard the enormous wealth of the hills, however, after a few phony leaders misinformed the public, a movement erupted leaving no option for the government but to recall the policy.
Nevertheless, the loss will be felt in a short period, he observed.
Meanwhile, more than 300 orange growers participated in a competition with Akin from Sibilong, Akindina from Chirong and Hagarna from Dailong taking the first, second and third positions respectively.
Akin went home richer by Rs 1.5 lakhs, Akindina by Rs 1 lakh and Hagarna by Rs 75 thousand.
Today`™s festival was also attended by Health minister Phungzathang Tonsing, Commerce and Industries minister Govindas Konthoujam, IFCD minister Ngamthang Haokip, RD & PR Minister Francis Ngajokpa, Agriculture minister Md Abdul Nasir, Tamei MLA amasung vice chairman Hill Area Committee Z Kikhonbou Newmai, MLA Kh Devendra, MLA Jagnhemlung Panmei, principal secretary Horticulture and Soil Conservation JC Ramthangana as guests of honour.
Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/cm-spells-out-big-time-projects-for-tamenglong-district-during-orange-fest-inauguration/